LGBT "Pride" - What Does It Mean?

I often am curious why certain groups choose certain words to describe themselves.  With the plethora of "gay pride" parades, events, and commentaries in recent days, my curiosity has focused itself on the choice of the word "pride."

As always when these things start pinging around my brain-pan, I resort first to the dictionary.  Merriam-Webster has the following entry:

Main Entry: ¹pride

Pronunciation: \ˈprīd\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old English prȳde, from prūd proud — more at proud

Date: before 12th century

1 : the quality or state of being proud: as a : inordinate self-esteem : conceit b : a reasonable or justifiable self-respect c : delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship <parental pride>
2 : proud or disdainful behavior or treatment : disdain
3 a : ostentatious display b : highest pitch : prime
4 : a source of pride : the best in a group or class
5 : a company of lions
6 : a showy or impressive group <a pride of dancers>

Hmmm.  Lots of choices here.  "Inordinate self esteem: conceit."  That one certainly fits those in TEO who were out and active at LGBT "pride" events, as well as the TEO clergy who keep pushing ahead with their revisionist agenda regardless of what Canterbury says or does.  Their obvious conceit is that they believe they are smarter than 2000 years of Christians and Bible scholars.

Or, "delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship." Is this akin to "if it feels good, do it?"  If so, perhaps this is the definition of choice amongst "gay pride" folks.

How about "proud or disdainful behavior or treatment : disdain?"  If you've ever been branded a "bigot"or a "homophobe" by some liberal with whom you disagree on homosexuality, you surely understand the meaning of the word "disdain", regardless of the logic or basis for your position on the issue.

Then there's "ostentatious display."  I offer as Exhibit "A" the photo to the right, shoes worn by  "Look At Me" Gene Robinson at his wedding.  'Nuff said.

"A company of lions?"  You must be joking.  Not even the famous Cowardly Lion of Oz fame or his ilk.  Sorry.

"A showy or impressive group?"  See other photos for "showy group".  As for "impressive?"  Purely in the eye of the beholder, friends.

So, as you can see, I still do not understand the phrase "gay pride."  But then again, there is less and less emanating from the left that I do understand any more.