Atheist philosopher Peter Boghossian started a bit of a kerfuffle on Twitter a couple days back:
https://twitter.com/peterboghossian/status/527862167152758784
My favorite replies were as follows:
https://twitter.com/danarel/status/527864825872134144
@peterboghossian So gay pride isn't about acting as if being gay is an achievement but promoting dignity, self respect and acceptance.
— Peter Ferguson (@Humanisticus) October 30, 2014
https://twitter.com/HPluckrose/status/527873951889100800
Basically, the word “pride” admits of various meanings, like all words in all languages.
Application of the philosophical principle of charity mandates that Boghossian seek out the definition of “pride” that makes the most sense in phrases like “black pride” or “gay pride,” so as to avoid attributing irrationality where none may exist.
In this case, the best definition is something like the following:
It makes perfect sense for a group facing widespread and irrational prejudice to deliberately assert their self-esteem, dignity, honour, and self-respect in order to push back against such prejudice. It also makes sense to say that the very act of asserting one’s self-worth in the face of hateful bigotry is a courageous act, an accomplishment worthy of pride in the more usual sense of taking satisfaction in a worthy job well done.
And, of course, there is nothing wrong with that.
