Pride in the face of prejudice - and beyond
This year, let's all be queer. Stand together to resist anti-LGBTQ+ hate.
Here in the U.S., June is Pride Month.
(Side note part 1: I have very mixed feelings about “X” Months: Women’s history, Black history, Pride. Shouldn’t we embrace and celebrate all these parts of our collective story every month? And yet, in our slow evolution, we seem to need these organized moments of visibility. Maybe one day we will evolve past this.)
My partner and I plan to show up for every Pride event we can. This year seems especially fraught for our LGBTQ+ family, friends, and neighbors. With vicious attacks through lawmaking as well as bullying and violence increasing, being visible in support of all human rights is essential.
It’s worth noting that virtually every repressive dictatorial regime of the last one hundred years (or more) has made anti-LGBTQ+ attacks a centerpiece. Tyrants succeed when (and only when) they are able to turn their people against one another. Perceived race, sexuality, gender, ability, and country of origin are all used as wedge issues, to divide and (literally) conquer us. LGBTQ+ folk know this well, have lived this painful history, and have much to teach the communities of resistance to fascism.
Once we allow any perceived group or identity to become the target of official, legal discrimination, or unofficial but encouraged violence, we put ourselves in the most precarious position. It only takes one slight change in the line between “us” and “them” to find ourselves on the wrong side of it. If we refuse to protect and defend those who are being scapegoated as “others” now, those who seek total power will come after us, our perceived group or identity, soon enough.
This June, go to a Pride event. Decorate your home with rainbows. Or, if that’s not safe where you are, know that we will show up for you, your loved ones, our loved ones, and all of us. This year, let’s all be queer.
(Side note part 2: After yesterday’s Pride parade in our town, a beautiful, vibrant event, I asked another attendee about whether we will evolve past the need for “months.” Her response: “I don’t know. We always have Veterans’ Day.” Made me think, in a good way, about the importance of public recognition for lots of groups.)