KRISTIANSAND, Norway, Aug. 21,2025
Pride celebration aims for equality,not sexualization
A BDSM advocate pushes back against claims that Pride events sexualize children,emphasizing the movement’s focus on equality and acceptance.
- Pride is a movement for equality and visibility, not a sexualized campaign, according to a BDSM advocate.
- Claims that adults appear half-naked in fetish gear at Pride are false, especially regarding Kristiansand parades.
- the BDSM community participates in Pride to show solidarity and advocate for values like consent.
- Reducing pride to stereotypical imagery overlooks its purpose of combating discrimination and hate crimes.
Claims that Pride is a “sexualized campaign” drawing children into a radical culture are unfounded and play on fear, a representative for Sørlandet BDSM stated. The advocate responded to a Sept.20.08.25 debate post that alleged adults appear “half naked in fetish equipment in front of children.”
pride, the advocate explained, is fundamentally a struggle for equality, visibility, and the right to live openly without fear of hatred or discrimination. When schools and kindergartens mark Pride, it’s to signal that all children and families belong, acting as a shield against bullying and exclusion.
The assertion that “half-naked adults in fetish clothes” are present at Pride events is simply untrue, the advocate countered. This claim suggests a lack of firsthand experience with parades in Kristiansand. For reference, the Sørlandet BDSM flag is described as alternating horizontal stripes of black and royal blue, with a white center stripe and a red circle with a white triscle in the middle.
Members of Sørlandet BDSM do not parade semi-naked or engage in sexual activities. Instead, they carry thier flag and offer “Happy Pride” greetings. While some members might wear leather or latex clothing, materials often associated with BDSM culture, this is attire, not nudity. Wearing such clothing is not a sexual act,and characterizing it as such in front of children is a deliberate misrepresentation.
The community’s participation in Pride aims to highlight their inclusion in society’s diverse fabric and their adherence to values like consent and accountability, directly contradicting claims of “boundlessness.”
Pride encompasses more than just parades; it includes concerts, family zones, debates, and cultural events. While adult-focused gatherings like “club sinful” exist, they do not dictate the nature of parade participation or how children perceive attendees.
To reduce the entire Pride movement to stereotypical images of leather, latex, and fetish gear is to ignore its core purpose. Pride exists because LGBTQ+ individuals still face discrimination and hate crimes, and reducing them to something “sexually repulsive” denies their place in society.
Children should not be sexualized
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