Why we have pride , PRIDE- a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one’s position or character; self-respect; self-esteem.
In society pride is one if those doubled edged swords we learn to balance only through life experience. Too much pride can blind you, inhibit you from seeing character flaws in yourself, flaws that could probably use some addressing. In turn, not enough pride in ones self could lead to lack of dignity as well as self confidence, and ultimately a poor understanding of ones self worth. Growing up, the term gay carried all sorts of negative connotations. Religious or societal, the depictions of gay people throughout our recent history has been one of struggle and brutality . It was something some people were afraid or even ashamed to admit. This is the climate so many youth continue to experience today. Many have been assaulted, publicly humiliated, sexually harassed, raped, and murdered for their sexual preference or gender identity . In some countries being gay is a crime punishable by imprisonment or even death. It is for this very reason so many continue to hide or lie about their sexual preference.
The LGBTQ civil rights movement has it’s very own heroes and martyrs, Men and women who have fought for equality and some who have died for simply being who they were born to be. Harvey milk , Ellen Degenerous, Mathew Shepard are just a few popular examples of these heros and martyrs. Countless more go unspoken or recognized .
Between the the passing of legislation recognizing gay marriage in several states here In the U.S. , the activism buy athletes at Sochi winter Olympics , and finally Russian and Ugandan officials passing laws that target the LGBTQ community and their supporters ,we are officially In the eye of the storm. Never before have issues of equality base on sexual preference and gender identity been such huge topics of discussion. Much like any other civil rights movements ours has been meet with an opposition that hides behind the guise of a traditional value system that we all know is idealist and quite frankly naïve. This is the stance that many religious right wing officials talk about using the phrase “the gay agenda” seeking to portray gay culture as a danger to family values and religious ideals.
The irony in the claim that some people are made uncomfortable by the sight of gay public displays of affection, is that many if not all that identify as queer have been subjected to some form of shaming in their life . Weather it be in a church that rejects the idea of homosexuality and labeling it a sin. Herring it labeled as unacceptable by family and fiends or perhaps simply watching the public reaction to Michael Sam’s kiss on ESPN.
The true reasons we celebrate gay pride is to show the world we have the courage to be who we truly are . That we stand in the face of adversity and do not waver . We have pride in who we were born to be and we will no longer hide for anyone. This is us shouting to the world that we are worthy of every right that many seek to keep from us . That much like you have the right to hold your pistol or Rifle I have the right to one day hold my future husbands hand in marriage . That we are more than capable of being loving and nurturing parents. We will no longer stand by and allow you to refuse us respect or service for that matter because we all know that separate but equal was far from equal. Gay pride is us telling this country to take their neo Jim Crow laws and burn them because obviously burying them didn’t work last time . These are just a few reasons we wear rainbow attire without fear, that we knowingly hold hands in places out side the gay bar. This is why we have pride .
Finally I commend not only those of us that are gay and proud but the countless others that continue to hide for fear of persecution or even death .This burden is a struggles many of us know too well and should not go unrecognized . We are fighting for you and we will be here to welcome you with open arms when you fell the time is right.
