Wouldn't this mostly depend on where you live? I participated in the Gay Pride Day festivities in Toronto for at least 10 succesive years, and never gave a second thought to what 'anyone might say'. A couple of times I made the front page of the paper under a huge sign that said "Gay Rights" (as part of Lesbian Singer Arlene Mantle's Band) and I can't remember anyone even asking about my orientation. My good wife Heather often comes to gigs, so maybe that had something to do with it, but I doubt it.

There are many "Irish Sessions" in Toronto, but I simply think that if their were any overt homophobia, the culprit would be called on it pretty fast. The whole "Canadian way" seems to be more "live and let live", so (and this is just my guess) folks who might want to make "faggot" jokes don't get much peer-support, and eventually just grow out of it.

I'm sure there's still quite a bit of 'behind the scenes' dumbness, though. We Canadians can at times be far too smug for our own good.

Cheers

Rick