Every year, at Pride, I have such high hopes that this year will be the year that we embrace what Pride was originally intended to be. And every year, I'm disappointed by all the infighting within our community, at the start of Pride season.
Pride was created in 1970, as a way to commemorate the community coming together for a common goal during the Stonewall Riots on June 28, 1969.
If you're not familiar, let me bring you up to speed. Stonewall Inn is in New York City. It was (essentially) a gay bar, at a time when it was literally illegal for groups of homosexuals to gather in public places. Raids by the police were commonplace. Those who were arrested by during raids were often outed publicly, losing jobs, homes, etc., as there were no protections for any of that at the time.
On June 28th, 1969, the patrons of Stonewall had had enough. Yet another raid happened. And people came together, regardless of their designation in the LGBTQ spectrum. Marsha P Johnson and Silvia Rivera are credited with starting the riots. Marsha P Johnson was an African American drag queen. Silvia Rivera was a Latinx transgender woman. Both performed in drag and supported transgender and gay rights throughout their lives.
After the riots, the local community struggled to come together. (Something that we still are struggling with, some 50 years later.) But, they did. And, they launched a push to celebrate remembrance of the events at Stonewall, nationwide. (That we still celebrate.)
So, why am I disappointed in the LGBTQ community every year, when Pride comes around?
In a community full of brilliant minds and activists of every shape, size and color, we should be able to put aside our differences. But inevitably, what happens, is that we erase letters from our acronym, according to what our letters are.
A post to the Blackstones Facebook page a couple of weeks ago started a demonizing of Pride, and of the community as a whole. While this may have been helpful in getting across a point, which it did, in proving the point, it further divided a community that is already fragile enough.
Add to that, a straight group petitioning the city of Boston to be able to hold a Straight Pride parade in August. People are losing their minds over this. Is it ridiculous? Absolutely. Straight people don't need to fear for their lives just for being themselves. But, denying the rights for Straights to have their parade sets a precedent that could easily backfire for OUR community.
If you want to have your voice be heard, protest. Protest loudly. Protest often. Grab a rainbow colored pussy hat and go to the straight pride parade. Write OP Ed's that explain that the First Amendment, which allows us the freedom to gather for pride is a luxury that is afforded to everyone in this country...because, again, if it gets denied, there is a precedent being set that will allow our things.to.be denied.
We live in a time where it feels like the government is trying to erase the entire LGBTQ community. It is harder and harder every day for the most vulnerable of us to even be visible. And yet, we continue to degrade ourselves and spread further discontent amongst ourselves, all in the name of "helping the community."
Follow the example of those who have come before you. Fight for all of our rights, not just those that benefit the people who look and act like you. Stand up for the less visible in our community. Extend an olive branch to those who you have ignored based on their differences.
Gay men have had our time in the spotlight, in this fight for our rights. Certainly, we are nowhere near finished.with the fight. But, until we embrace the other letters in our acronym and start protecting the vulnerable, we can never win this fight.
Remember, Pride is a celebration of the beginning of our fight 50 years ago. But, just think, if we can come together, (like we did after Stonewall) some day we could be using Pride as a way to celebrate the end of our fight as well. Support all the letters in the alphabet soup of our community, because that is the only.way we can win this.
Happy Pride!🌈🌈🌈
