Rainbow flags flying on public buildings

We live in enlightened times allthegear. Although we still have some way to go I fear.

@crikey – yes, of course, either on here or email is fine (depends on the question!!)

It's not really an awkward one, I don't think…

Does your biking clothing have any particular gender specific-ness?

I was wondering how I would deal with it in a practical way, and couldn't decide if I would dress differently for biking.

Yeah – it's been a question I'm battling with myself now, especially as it is getting warmer.

I guess I'll always use my 5.10 shoes – I couldn't imagine using anything else although I hate the fact they make my feet look even bigger than they already are!

I suppose some bits & pieces are what might be described as female-specific but tops can be a pain because the sleeves can be a bit short. Strangely, I've found Campag tops have HUGE sleeves… 🙂

Really though, the last few months have been mind-bogglingly expensive in clothes etc for work, going out, just living and trying to replace an entire biking wardrobe as well is a bit of a no no – I'd be even more broke than I am!!

Rachel

Ok, thanks for that. It struck me that most cycling clothing, and mountain bike stuff in particular is almost gender neutral. I suppose most roadie stuff is that tight that it's the content (ie the lumpy bits) that defines gender, but mountain biking other than stuff aimed specifically at women, the flowery bits and pink highlights, is pretty much asexual….

Interesting…

Yes, there are some really nice things but there's a lot of companies that seem to think making something pink is actually a good idea – I've got a bright orange Nicolai and pink would clash terribly!!

😆

Hey Rachel, good on ya!

The whole fashion-as-applied-to-sport thing is really interesting, especially where gender is introduced; there is a growing trend for women specific design in bikes as well as clothing, but this seems to have created a split in that there are those who regard the pink thing as insulting, and those who think it's great.

I suppose in the end it's all about choice, and the more choice there is, the better.

er, yes, as Colnagokid says, good on yer, how brave must you be?
All the best..

Yes – I was reading in STW about Minx Girl and they have some fab stuff – I keep meaning to email them and ask about sleeve lengths and so on for what they have.

Quite what I'll do for DH I'm not sure – really, I want to wear the most protective shorts etc I can and that's the Zyme 3/4s I've already got. Must admit to being a bit worried about going back to CwnDown and getting in the van soon. Could get a few looks…

Thanks guys. I really, really need to go to bed (I'll avoid any silly comment about desperately needing my beauty sleep!) so I'm signing off.

If you see me on the trail, say Hi.

Rachel

You're all uneducated ninnies.

The rainbow flag is a bastardisation (did I use the word correctly, Ernie?) of the Buddhist flag, which itself was an 1880's development by de Silva and Olcott. The colours were chosen to mirror those of the aura allegedly surrounding the Lord Buddha subsequent to his enlightenment.

It was hijacked by the gay and green community 'cos neither group has had an original thought in their entire history, though they sure moan and bitch a lot…

And yes, as I have chums in both communities I'm allowed to say these awful things 🙂

Good theory ro, except those flags don't look anything like each other!

(did I use the word correctly, Ernie?)

How should I know ?

Have you forgotten already ? ………..it was only a few days ago that I put my hand up and confessed to being amongst the "barely-educated" which you claim now "infest" forums.

btw, you don't seem to have moved a whole lot forward, in resolving the issues which you betrayed when you hijacked cinnamon_girl's thread …… with your melodramatic bollox about 'reporting punters to their professional associations and dragging them before their relevant disciplinary bodies'. Still, I guess it's very early days yet.

graham:

you do understand the word 'bastardisation'? not identical, but lookalikie…

ernie: (what a duff name, btw. is it real?)

i said they 'should' be reported, not that i would. i have better things to do with my time, like rattling your cage.

besides, melodramatic is my middle name.

*brushes floppy hair off face and flounces off into the distance*

They 'ordered' us to put the rainbow flag up the station flag pole last year, the same pole they refused to let us run the st georges flag up on st georges day. I have no problem with the intention behind the Idaho day, however I do feel it innapropriate flying a rainbow flag on a firestation flag pole.

lol – even I wouldn't wear those!!

Well I would… They'll match my pink gloves amazingly…
Should I be worried?

you do understand the word 'bastardisation'?
not identical, but lookalikie…

Oh right, silly me, you're right of course they are near identical.,

Bhuddist Flag:

LGBT Flag:

..apart from, you know, the colours, the different number of colours, the differing orientation, and that the Bhuddist flag isn't in the order of a rainbow.

Lummox – why is it "inappropriate flying a rainbow flag on a firestation flag pole"?

or more appropriate to fly the cross of St George?

or more appropriate to fly the cross of St George?

Well, I don't strongly identify as English nor am I against the principles of 'Idaho' day (although duly note the American-centric appellation) but I would have thought that a St Georges flag on St Georges day is a traditional celebration of the nation that we all live in and Idaho day is a celebration geared towards a small special interest group who only represent a narrow proportion of the population. The one that celebrates the many is banned whilst the one that celebrates the few is enforced – it does seem a twisted kind of logic.

Perhaps 'innapropriate' was the wrong term to use, i think Heathenwoods well and truly hit the nail on the head, better than i could. As i said i have no problem showing that the 'modern' fire service is an equal opportunities employer, and that obviously applies to race and gender too, i do find it saddening though that the flag of st george can not be flown as well on the appropriate day.

Actually, I agree – it does seem a little bizarre to "ban" flying the St Georges Flag.

As Councils tend to have the say in these things, what with Fire Stations mostly being council-governed, it is likely that there isn't just one person making a consistent decision about every flag to fly – first someone asks if they can fly a Goerges Flag and they have a think and decide it's too "English" so say no – then another comittee at the council say we should celebrate IDAHO and flags are required where they exist.

Unfortunately, these things happen in councils. many, many things seem inconsistent and downright "weird" – not just flags!!

I take your point, and I accept that I can be a bit enthusiastic in my condemnation of patriotism, which I see as divisive and racist. On the other hand the rainbow pride thing is designed to combat the oppression of a significant proportion of the population, and I dont really see why people would object.

Why does a fire station need a flagpole in the first place?

isn't the rainbow jersey for world champs?

only if they're buddhists…

Well, I don't strongly identify as English nor am I against the principles of 'Idaho' day (although duly note the American-centric appellation) but I would have thought that a St Georges flag on St Georges day is a traditional celebration of the nation that we all live in and Idaho day is a celebration geared towards a small special interest group who only represent a narrow proportion of the population. The one that celebrates the many is banned whilst the one that celebrates the few is enforced – it does seem a twisted kind of logic.

Forgive me if I'm wrong here but the whole point of IDAHO is aimed at peole who might be homophobic. I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that this group of people might not be gay themselves in which case the rainbow flag is being flown to address the majority of the population not the minority.

As for banning the St Georges flag, just goes to prove that there will never be a shortage of idiots.

Do and are people who are Homophobic really going to take any notice of a multi coloured flag,and where its flying from, i think not.

Hopefully it will allow the subject to be talked about,and be brought out of the so called closet.

Wonders when we will have an openly gay cyclist,we already have a transexual cyclist, and best wishes to her.

Do and are people who are Homophobic really going to take any notice of a multi coloured flag,and where its flying from, i think not.

Of course they notice it, it tells them what bars/establishments not to go into! 😉

Forgive me if I'm wrong here but the whole point of IDAHO is aimed at peole who might be homophobic.

Well, discounting the idea that they might be free to make up their own minds, how effective at dismantling deep-seated prejudices, really, is flying flags going to be? I'm not sure I can accept that this can be a serious strategy at 'targetting' homophobes:

"Bloody gays, with their musicals and their same sex sex, i'm going to give em a bloody good seeing to…. hang on! A flag, A ruddy great big rainbow flag! Sorry gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the TG community, the scales have fallen from eyes and I shall now embrace your difference."

Nah.

[…]in which case the rainbow flag is being flown to address the majority of the population not the minority.

So, are the majority of the population homophobic? I doubt it.

Everyone can f=== off flying pathetic flags like a rainbow flag.. You either fly the Union Flag or one of its associated flags or none at all.

Union
–noun
1.the act of uniting two or more things.
2.the state of being united.

why do we need these ridiculous childish "flags"???

Wonders when we will have an openly gay cyclist […]

Me. I've just been quiet of late. 🙂

The idea of flying flags etc, etc is (I believe) to keep bringing the whole concept of LGBT on the conciousness of us all. Only by being exposed to things, so we get used to them.

It wouldn't have been that long ago since if a black guy walked down the street, people would stare. It was unusual so caught people's attention. In 2010, if a couple of guys want to hold hands in the street, they get noticed and some people can be really cruel.

Hopefully, by exposing people to LGBT stuff (including but not restricted to flying flags! There was a mass-kissing session outside Next in Norwich today for example…) can we all get used to it and just get along.

The majority of the public are not homophobic, at least not conciously. It's just that it's quite intimidating being who you are if you get stared at all the time – example a couple of months ago – bloke in Tesco turns round to his missus and whispers (in a way only blokes can whisper) "hey – look – is that a bloke????"

think he might of meant openly gay and just a little bit better than you at cycling.

why do we need these ridiculous childish "flags"???

Is it because some of us believe in things other than the Union? Perhaps some of us can feel proud about tolerance but a little bit indifferent to the legacy of the UK from colonisation, exploitation, slavery, and more recently the Iraq war. Perhpas we have other values and if you can fly your ridiculous flag why can we not fly ours?

Perhpas we have other values and if you can fly your ridiculous flag why can we not fly ours?

Fight, fight, fight 😉

AdamW – Member

Wonders when we will have an openly gay cyclist […]

Me. I've just been quiet of late.

Posted 17 minutes ago # Report-Post

Welcome Adam. i remember you now,green lycra,riding a Cotic, or was that Robin Hood in sherwood Forest. 🙂

My Flag??? you do mean the BRITISH flag – a flag that simplifies a state of people in UNION????

"YOUR" flags do nothing more than alienate you even more – people get sick and tired of having this sh1t ramed down there throats. As for the MASS KISSING – this just comes under decency laws, hetrosexual are not allowed to do these things so waht makes you think LGBT community can? Stop bleating on about how different you are or "what special privilages" you should receive and get on with life. FFS there are now 'quotas' instilled in every walk of life where the "minority" irrespective of qualification will be pushed ahead of those more suited.

Be Gay, Be Lesban, Be Transexual, great have a good life – but if you start acting a ****t in community because of it don't expect to be treated fairly – the bloke in my office dances round like a fairy so he gets called it (amongst other things) but it's all light hearted to him, much is calling someone big ears……. for having big ears… last ime i looked Gary Linker wasn't looking to have a flag raised to "raise awareness"….?!

Welcome Adam. i remember you now,green lycra,riding a Cotic, or was that Robin Hood in sherwood Forest

Actually I *do* have a RoadRat if that counts and I have been known to (slowly) trundle around Sherwood Pines 😀

Sui – I seriously recommend some form of anger management course or something.

just a sh1t day a work – stand by my points though.