But the main problem that we can’t overlook here is this boy’s age. It’s exciting and uplifting to see kids participate in pride events that spur on progressive change. The heart of this video is in the right place. But if it was a 12-year-old girl wearing a halter top and short shorts, twerking at a festival, her parents would probably have CPS called on them. The Reddit commenter is spot on: This boy was being celebrated for dancing suggestively because he was at a gay pride festival, an event I support completely. It’s the opposite of the way I was raised in a you’re-going-to-hell Christian household, and it embodies the same acceptance I hope to pass on to my sons.īut, white supremacists aside, the real issue most rational parents have with this video is the boy’s age. It’s refreshing to see a child being encouraged to celebrate so freely at a gay pride festival. The fact that it’s a boy doesn’t make it somehow acceptable.”Īt first view of this video, I was almost inclined to agree with Ovenworthy’s take. When the video was posted to Reddit, one of the top commenters pointed out, “If this were a 12-year-old girl, everybody would be sh***ing all over the parents and the festivalgoers encouraging them. Perhaps on Reddit, we can find a voice of reason. Other vile commenters went on to make ignorant statements like, “Kill the f******.” Commenters accused those with a “homosexual agenda” of converting children to homosexuality. Gay Star News reports that responses to the video took a dark turn when it was posted to a white supremacy website. When posted by Ovenworthy, the young boy was called an inspiration and hailed for “ fighting homophobia.” The Ovenworthy post went on to say, “Progressives need to work together to create a whole generation of kids like this.” From my perch by the corner coat pile, I survey the scene: Gay men of an impressive range of age, race, attractiveness, body type, and ball-cap embroidery shake hands and strike up conversations.