I am attending the first weekend of the annual North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival at the Carolina Theater in Durham. This is one of the biggest LGBT events in the Triangle, exceeded in numbers only by the annual spring OUT! Raleigh street fair that draws a large percentage of allies who come to join the fun.

We have moved out of the ghettos and are becoming mainstreamed into American society so why do we continue to need Gay Pride parades and festivals? First, we have yet to achieve full rights legally and are still discriminated against in spite of recent accomplishments in the courts. We need to push to cross the boundaries of homophobia not only in the courts and legislatures but also especially in our churches.

For generations we were shamed and rejected and hid in the relative safety of our bars and social clubs, and those years became part of our history and culture. We have a unique history that goes much further back than the United States, and many of us have forgotten or never knew of that history. It is a part of who we are and should be celebrated beyond just Stonewall.

Many of the films in this festival will never go into general theatrical release both because of their limited audience appeal but also because they are independently produced and distributed. They are not part of the giant media network, and without these festivals that happen all across the country they would have no audience. With no market, the writers, directors, and producers (usually only one or two people) would not be able to get funding or find story material. These films don’t have the giant market the porn industry does that is usually distributed directly via DVD or online.

What does it mean to a young gay man or lesbian to see a love story that reflects their secret dreams? How do transgender people feel when someone dares to tell their story honestly and with hope? What about parents who are struggling to accept the news that their children are LGBT? I certainly had few LGBT role models when I was a teenager or even a young adult struggling to find self-awareness and acceptance. If homosexuality was even dared to be mentioned, it always was in the context of perversion, and the characters were either sad, comic or evil.

So are these just gay propaganda promoting a lifestyle? That’s what opponents would have you believe. If we dare to tell a story with a happy ending or show a gay or lesbian couple in love, then we’re accused of flaunting ourselves and offending the public. The landmark film “Brokeback Mountain” is celebrating its 10th anniversary as one of the few that told a gay love story that appealed to the general market and was hugely successful. Of course, it had to end tragically to satisfy the critics, but then other love stories also often end that way also.

I’m no longer ashamed of being gay, and celebrating with others in these festivals is a joyful experience that I recommend to everyone.