Guiding Discussions

When last year’s Boston Pride Guide was published, the Supreme Court had yet to deliver its landmark ruling that declared same-sex marriage a constitutional right nationwide. Yet, as our community rejoiced in this monumental achievement, decades in the making, religious exemption legislation was being swiftly introduced in several states, complicating the ability of queer people to exercise this hardwon right.

In addition to the direct backlash from Obergefell v. Hodges, some states have pending or passed legislation that actively discriminates against trans people. Others lack explicit protections for gender identity and expression in their public accommodations laws. These issues, among many others, are sobering reminders that our victories should never be taken for granted, and that equality and justice for all remains very much a work in progress.

Pride is the time of year when our community is most visible and audible. As such, it presents an ideal context for education about, and (re)commitment to, one another’s causes – especially those concerning intersectional experiences. We believe the Boston Pride Guide has a critical role to play in this collective effort. Accordingly, in the sophomore volume of the Guide we remain dedicated to publishing stories that highlight less discussed topics, which require the attention and action of a community working alongside one another in solidarity: the impact of recent religion-based legislation on queer individuals; poverty in our community; the importance of coming out to one’s doctor; intersex awareness and youth advocacy; and non-binary gender identity.

The 2016 Guide likewise sees the return of perspective pieces, in which individuals in our community are given space to speak personally about an issue of particular significance to them. This year’s perspectives address a variety of issues and intersectional identities ranging from the local to the global, from coming out as a gay man in the Black community and growing up as the child of lesbian and gay parents, to mentoring and learning from young women, many of color, adopting children in foster care, and improving outreach and support for LGBTQI Syrian refugees.

The article on InterPride’s Pride Radar demonstrates well the explosive growth and positive impact that the Pride movement has seen on an international scale. Still, there are many areas of the world where the Pride movement is just beginning. One of these is Southeast Asia, and particularly Indonesia, where one of our contributors, a gay man, has written an on-the-ground report on the recent and alarming surge in homo- and transphobic activity in the country. The global Pride coverage is completed by a short piece by a principal organizer of Athens Pride (Greece), who gives readers a look into the ongoing work of a Pride across the world.

Credit: Marilyn Humphries

The History Project’s story on the HIV/AIDS epidemic is a must-read for its pertinence to the community-selected theme “Solidarity through Pride” and its exploration of the relationship between the epidemic and the formation of our modern day, unified LGBTQI community.

Readers will also be treated to an interesting array of pieces that highlight local LGBTQI artistic accomplishments (poetry by lesbian and gay poets of color, queer women musicians in Boston), hobbies (home cooking, reading LGBTQI literature, queer-friendly tourism), and culture (Pride anthems and LGBTQI-themed art at the Museum of Fine Arts).

And, of course, the Pride Guide is packed with straight-fromthe-source information about this year’s festivities, including a number of exciting new or revamped events that you won’t want to miss!

As in 2015, all this rich, wide-ranging content is the result of the volunteer efforts of a passionate, talented, and dedicated cadre of more than 40 LGBTQI contributors. The editorial team is grateful for their generosity and #wickedproud to have collaborated with them.

On behalf of Boston Pride, I would also like to express our deepest appreciation to the nearly 100 advertisers and sponsors, whose belief in and tangible support of our work enables us to produce this magazine and to offer it freely as a service to the community.

This year’s Guide is poised to build upon last year’s print and digital readership, which well exceeds 40,000 reads (and counting!) in 94 countries around the globe – many with environments hostile to queer people. It is my hope that this year’s Guide attains an even greater international reach, carrying with it a message of affirmation, hope, and solidarity to LGBTQI people worldwide.

We have endeavored to make the 2016 volume worthy of our theme of solidarity. We hope that its pages reflect the great diversity of our community, including its strengths and challenges, as well as inspire us to join together in the fight against discrimination and injustice, wherever it exists and whatever its form.

Yours in Pride and Solidarity,

Michael Anthony Fowler Editor-in-Chief mafowler@bostonpride.org