Hello, It’s Kim here on the Dóchas blog, and it’s Pride Month! It’s hard to believe that it’s 2022 and members of the LGBTQ+ community are still fighting for their rights to be who they are, and love who they want to love. I just am confused about something that seems so simple to be being denied to people at any time.
Why do we celebrate Pride month?
Back in June 1969, police raided a gay bar, The Stonewall Inn in New York City. The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents as police roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar on Christopher Street, in neighboring streets and in nearby Christopher Park. The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. (source)
Stonewall is where everything changed for the LGBTQ+ community, and is now marked as a historical event. Pride Month is not only a month dedicated to members of the LGBTQ+ community, but a time to celebrate all of the culture, art, and accomplishments that this community achieved throughout history, and to remember those who lost their lives due to violence or HIV/AIDS.
I recognize my place of privilege here in being a cis white female. I recognize that I am probably the last person to be preaching about “why can’t we just treat each other from this place of humanity?” But I hang on to this naiveté because I don’t want to believe in the cruelty of humanity either.
As this article I read recently puts it: “So we celebrate because we still can. We march because we still can. Because a community whose rights are in constant threat of being taken away has to be in everyone’s face reminding everyone that we are human—and to leave us alone, honestly.”
At the end of the day we are all human. We all want and need to feel loved and connected to others and a community. I’ve watched family members deny their happiness because it wouldn’t be accepted. It kills me. Because, in my opinion, there is never anything wrong with loving someone. We are all human. I hope someday it will be that simple.
Here are some resources, if you’re looking for more info and support:
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