[Byron]

Yes, I have long felt that the shock tactics employed have a great and undesirable rebound effect but they continue in some annual pride parades. Maybe the attitude is "we have nothing to lose if we are sneered at so often already " but the spectacle is reminiscent of the medieval freak shows which would attract crowds for some diverting amusement (entirely the wrong level at which to secure better public tolerance of course).
Maybe I am pessimistic but I fear that the gay-only perception of speedos is going to take a very long time to eradicate.