Background
Gay shame was created as a protest of (and named in opposition to) the overcommercialization of the "gay pride" events. Members attack "queer assimilation" in what they perceive as oppressive and conservative societal structures—as such its members disagree with the legalization of same-sex marriage. Gay Shame began in 1998 as an annual event in Brooklyn, New York. Held for a number of years at DUMBA, an artists' run collective center, bands such as Three Dollar Bill and Kiki and Herb and speakers such as Eileen Myles, Mattilda aka Matt Bernstein Sycamore and Penny Arcade appeared at the first event, and the evening was documented by Scott Berry and released as the film Gay Shame 98. Swallow Your Pride was a zine published by the people involved in planning Gay Shame in New York. Three issues were released. The movement later spread to San Francisco, Toronto, and Sweden. The San Francisco Gay Shame became a non-hierarchical direct-action group that continues to this day.
Read more about this topic: Gay Shame
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