It’s June. Specifically, it’s the end of June, which means that LGBT communities and our allies are celebrating “Gay Pride” in all corners, a reminder to everyone around us that we exist, that we have been persecuted against, that we fight against such persecution, and that we are still so hated among some corners that some of us would rather be dead than live a life as someone who doesn’t quite love another person in the same way that most other people do.
But, not only does this month serve to remind everyone of these inequities, it is also a time to celebrate the full spectrum of sexuality and gender, and for many people everywhere, it’s a terribly wonderful time.
While the 1960s saw Annual Reminders take place in the form of pickets on 4 July at Independence Hall in Philadelphia to remind people that no laws and no actions can stamp out an entire people, the morning of 28 June 1969 saw police raid the Stonewall Inn in New York City, spring boarding the Stonewall Riots that made way for the modern pride celebrations that now occur all over every June.
The oppression of us is well known (if you don’t know, then I suggestion you read more), so I won’t dwell on it here. But, what is also well known is that public sentiment towards the LGBT community and our allies has flipped dramatically in our favor. And it all seems like this occurred overnight.
When watching Queer as Folk, it sometimes feels like the show is being overly dramatic when it explores how much we were oppressed at the turn of this century. These were the days when a horribly despicable, unintelligent, and embarrassing man was elected to the office of the U.S Presidency (and not by popular vote), who wanted to write discrimination into the Constitution, defining marriage as between only a man and a woman.
It’s easy to forget that this was happening merely 10 years ago, when now we have a president who has overturned the ridiculous Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy of the military and who openly endorses marriage for same-sex couples. Furthermore, the people of states everywhere are voting to legalize same-sex marriage, or federal courts across the country are overturning mean-spirited amendments to ban same-sex marriage. The fact that same sex marriage is now supported by majorities in this country is simply remarkable, considering that roughly 3% of us are gay, which means we now have millions of straight allies on our side, and that is absolutely fantastic! A Gallop poll in May 2014 indicates 55% of Americans now support legalization of marriage between two people of the same gender. Even more exciting still is that 8 in 10 young Americans are now in favor. Absolutely remarkable, this, when in 1996 support for marriage for same-gendered couples was at a dismal 27%.
Progress indeed, through and through.
But, again, this is all obvious. It is well known the progress we’ve made. (Again, if it isn’t, then you don’t pay attention very well and should get out more.)
All of this, however, is just to help you to understand how I currently feel about pride celebrations in 2014. I absolutely and resolutely adore pride in the Twin Cities, but a part of me can’t help but think that pride month will have to rapidly transform itself very soon, mainly because so many other things are changing very quickly, from marriage rights, workplace discrimination, to bullying in schools. Or, if they’re not changing very quickly, lots and lots of us are talking about how to change things in order to protect those of us who feel like there is no way forward in a life as a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered individual, and so choose suicide instead. Things in 1969 were terribly and horribly different, and I remain forever grateful towards those early trailblazers. It is now 2014, and we’ve done so much work. It’s really quite remarkable.
Even still, what should pride become? In 50 years, when marriage will be legal across all states, when two girls in 6th grade call themselves girlfriends and sneak secret kisses at the top of the playground slide just like the girl down the street who does the same with her boyfriend, when it is unthinkable to use the word gay as a pejorative in the way that is is unthinkable to call Brazil nuts by that ghastly horrible alternative, what purpose will these Annual Reminders serve?
I suppose pride month will continue to serve as a reminder so that we never forget where we were and what we came from and the work we had to do to get here. We may have marriage for all in Minnesota now, but we mustn’t ever forget the hard work so many people did to make that a reality. Pride month may certainly become a celebration of what is possible.
Pride month will also no doubt continue to serve as a reminder that there are many corners on this planet that are not so fortunate, that women are still forced to wear ridiculous clothes in the name of modesty, that it is still a crime for certain people to love certain other people, that it is still bizarre and strange that the very idea that someone’s biology at birth isn’t an indicator of their true gender.
But, still, how fabulous it is in the meantime! How wonderful it is that we live in a place such as this! How grateful we all are towards our straight allies who stand with us! How remarkable the tenacity of the human spirit!
Go out! Celebrate as you do! Come as you are!
There are no closets here to step out of, only open doors into a universe of our own identities to become acquainted with.