I understand why you think that gay pride parades aren't necessary. As a gay/questioning man (which I don't often say because I don't feel like that I should have to tell everyone that I am gay), I also think that pride parades aren't necessary and often too crazy for me. However, some people that go to the pride events is a chance to be themselves. To be away from their families and friends (if they are homophobia towards said person), to do whatever you want. That's why there are gay bars and other things that often only LGBT+ people go to.

Plus, America is so different from Europe. You get that as well. I just want to clear up why America was so behind same-sex marriage. 

Back in the good old days of colonial America (before the America Revolution happened and European nations still looked for gold), many people that went to the New World were Protestant. During the time of the Protestant Reformation, the Pope became worried of them and the losing power of the Catholic Church. The Spanish Empire is the New World, mostly alone besides Portugal down in the south. Then, the Counter Reformation happens and the Pope begins to look at the New World as a chance to spread Catholic before any Protestant nation gains more of a foothold in the New World. 

Then, the British came out of nowhere in the New World and managed to keep Jamestown alive (somehow). Their cash crop, tobacco, was doing so well that made more than gold for a bit. And then we have more British colonies forming from Maryland that established the Act Concerning Religion, giving both Catholics and Protestants the same rights. Puritanism was huge in New England (before it broke off into smaller pieces). The Puritans went to the New World in hopes that they would established "a city upon a hill" and basically speed up the Reform in England. 

Massachusetts was formed in 1629. Roger Williams gave his criticisms about Puritans and was an early proponent of religious freedom and separation of church and state. He's ban for Massachusetts and decides to form his own colony, Rhode Island. Thomas Hooker soon leaves Massachusetts and established New Haven in 1636. Then New Haven and Hartford combined and became Connecticut, the first colony to established religious freedom. 

As you can see, the New World was a filled with Protestants and other religions (that weren't Catholic) that escaped Europe. And you have Catholics who wanted controlled of the entire New World and wanted to spread their religion at the same time. I could even say that those events are the main reason why America is more religious than Europe in the modern day. Plus, there were more religious event that happened during the American Revolution and beyond that into the modern day. Same-sex marriage is an example of that.

It's becoming more accepted in the country, but I think that it will never be accepted by everyone--given America's background in religion and other things. I think that you know that Europe and America are totally different, but I just wanted to share my thoughts on it with historical events. I also agree that LGBT+ representation is low because 3.8% of adult in America are LGBT, while there are a high percentage of straight people. "Heterosexuality is the standard" as you said. I just want to live a normal, peaceful life without shoving my sexuality into peoples' faces. I hope that helps and if you have any questions, you can ask me. By the way, my source for all of this is my American History class that I am taking in college.