Pride

For those who don’t already know, June is the nationally recognized month to celebrate LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-, trans-, queer) pride. It’s truly astonishing how far we’ve come since the 1969 riots at Stonewall and the grave injustices that the homo(trans)sexual population has faced throughout history. Thanks to the very brave individuals at Stonewall who stood up to the law for reform, we are now allotted the month of June month to celebrate our sexuality.

For individuals in the LGBTQ community, June is a time to celebrate who we are and what we hope to achieve in the future. It is a time when we can openly parade the streets, show affection to members of the same sex and in essence, be ourselves.

A few weeks ago, I was asked the question “what does pride mean to you?” Surprisingly, I was unable to think of an immediate response. Sure, I take part in the festivities at the annual pride parade, but what is it that I am celebrating?

Lost in my thoughts, I began to think about all the times when I was not celebrating my sexuality – all the times I’d been picked on, laughed at, the brunt of ignorant jokes. I often found myself questioning whether it would have been easier to live life as a “straight” man, rather than face society’s negative view of my sexuality. To me, it almost seems as though hatred toward the homosexual population is acceptable 11 months out of the year. Why should the homosexual community’s pride be limited to one month of the year? Why can’t we express our pride all year long? Certainly we should make the best of June, the month where the rest of the population should be slightly more tolerant of us, right? June is the month that has been designated for me to be who I am publicly; but I don’t think it should just be for this one month.

Having been “out” for about three years, I have come to realize that pride is not limited to the month of June. I am finally able to understand my own inner strength. Pride for me is embracing who I am. I cannot change my sexuality, and at this point, I no longer want to. I am happy with the life that I am creating for myself as a gay man.

I’m fortunate to have interned at the YWCA, a place where every kind of sexuality is not only embraced, but celebrated, and I have the freedom to be 100 percent myself. I know it’s a luxury to work in an environment like this, and it’s something I wish everyone could have.

To many, June represents a time to be proud. To me, it symbolizes my hopes for the future- a future where people – whether lesbian, gay, bi-, trans-, queer or straight – can comfortably “out” themselves with pride, not fear.

On the Frontline,

Joe