This Wednesday marks the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. Back in 1969, we weren’t hung up on as many labels as we are today. It wasn’t until the '90s and early 2000s that the term "nonbinary" was first used. The New Romantics of the '80s would laugh at our need for constantly assigning language to our identities .

The Stonewall Inn, located in New York City 's Greenwich Village, was ground zero for gays to convene and find solace decades prior. The Stonewall riots were the catalyst for our modern gay rights movement. Before then, gay men and women had to gather in secret, often being vetted through a peephole in the door of a bar or club. Our forefathers couldn’t have predicted how far the gay rights movement would go. That five-day upheaval in 1969 would set in motion everything leading up to the Obergefell Supreme Court decision of June 2015 and beyond.

Unfortunately, some displays at recent pride parades have brought more ire and judgment to LGBT people. This is nothing new for us. We’ve been persecuted before and many of us have personal traumas we do our best to keep tucked away in Pandora’s box. What was supposed to be a day of celebration has poured lighter fluid on the culture war. You’ve probably seen the videos. A man dancing in his underwear in front of toddlers , nude biking through the streets , drag queens chanting "we’re coming for your children " have all caught mainstream attention. 

As with any group, the actions of 1% can often mar and muddy the waters for everyone else. In fact, the deranged acts of the few make it harder for the majority of us to be accepted. I attended my first pride parade in 2017. I’d just moved to New York City from Dallas and had never had more fun. We danced in the street, we danced on tables, we lived unapologetically until we returned to our civilized lives on Monday morning with the sounds of Gloria Gaynor’s "I Will Survive" still ringing in our ears. 

I don't recall any headlines calling us "woke," "pedophiles," or "child groomers.” We hadn't given them any reason to. We were there supporting the idea that “love is love.” At the time, it seemed like even our greatest critics understood that.

As a commonsense gay guy with a platform of millions of viewers each month, I try to find compassion and understanding for all Americans. On the one hand, the behavior of a minority of LGBT folks should not define us as a whole. But one cannot excuse objectionable behavior or sweep it under the rug. On the flip side, I question why some straight couples are hellbent on bringing their toddlers and young children to pride parades. But I am not a parent, and the answer to that question is far above my paygrade.

The history of the LGBT cohort is colorful and has existed mostly outside the lines of mainstream society for decades. Let's not forget that it took almost 46 years for us to have the right to marry nationwide. Grown men dancing nude in the street does very little to help our cause. While it may be entertaining to gawk at, and one could make the case that the human body is beautiful in all of its various shapes and sizes, there is still a time and a place for everything.
 
Link Lauren is a culture critic based in Dallas.