June is Pride Month. I have a few thoughts.
To me, celebrating pride is about celebrating different modes of pursuing happiness. More to the point, it’s about the breaking of arbitrary expectations for gender presentation, identity, and expression. That includes the right to fall in love with someone of the same sex, but it goes well beyond that.
I’m gay, so I’m very much a participant in this month’s celebrations. I’m also a cis male and to outward appearances basically gender-conforming. That’s neither a good thing nor a bad thing – just where I’ve landed. But I like the idea that others enjoy the freedom to be otherwise, that if I felt compelled to change or redefine some aspect of my identity or presentation tomorrow I could, and that the realm of personal freedom keeps expanding.
The opposition is loud and destructive, and it’s reached a fever pitch in the last few years. Transgender people in particular are the targets du jour. I see conservatives trying to drive a wedge between gay/bi and trans people. I see Republicans attacking Pride Month merchandise in stores, shuttering programs promoting diversity, and banning LGBTQ books. Worse, they’re isolating queer kids and queer families in school. They’re making it harder for people to just live as they see fit without doing a bit of harm to anyone else.
In the face of this, my fellow queer people make me proud. These are people living happy, interesting, loving, fulfilling lives despite intimidation and scapegoating. This community gives me hope for the future when it sometimes feels in short supply.
It’s inspiring, and not just in theory and not just for each person individually. We truly have accomplished a lot for the improvement of our society. On a scale of decades, and with plenty of setbacks, America has become more accepting of the wide variety of people who live here. If we (and now I’m including straight folks) can empathize with each other and make a bit of room for other people’s differences, we can continue on that path. To me, that’s what all those rainbow flags and parades are about: celebrating where we’ve been, looking forward to how much better we still have to do.
Happy Pride. 🏳🌈🏳️⚧️
You rock Craig.
Mucho amor de Sra. Blevins.
What is interesting to me is that Republicans perceive intragroup diversity (in this case the LGBT+ community) as a weakness, while I see it as a strength.
100%
You are a wonderful human being, that much I know, and I am proud of your accomplishments in living a meaningful, authentic life and the choices you’ve made. Miss you in Portland! Great post!
Aw thank you! 🙂