SCENE & DONE IT

BY MICHAEL STEINHAGE

Pride and Protest

Is Pride still a protest the way it once was? I ask myself this, and go look through the glass. What if I went to Pride in a faraway land, where the gays are oppressed and the cruel in command, would I stand up to count, would I stay in my house? See with protest there’s elephant, with protest there’s mouse. There’s pride and there‘s prejudice across the planet, and here it is lovely if Clive goes as Janet. Elsewhere you may carry your pride in your heart, for it’s only there safe, there in that hidden part. We fought for our rights oft the old queers proclaim, and the young queers protest we are doing the same! It may be a party, a piss-up for many, it may be a huge waste of money for any. “It’s not what it was“ you hear said more than once. Yet is anything ever when it’s been years and months? What is Pride, what is Protest, a march, a petition? What is yours may not be mine, each have their own mission.

One year has changed everything, that much is clear. One year has just taken so much we hold dear. One year has made many afraid and alone, one year has shown all that we’re not on our own.

We’ve covered our mouths yet we’ve spoken up louder, we’ve stuck to the rules yet we protested prouder. Division and unity, never seen hand in hand, have swept though the world, sparing no single land. First the streets were as empty as never before, no shoes on the pavements, from cars not a roar. Then we clapped at our windows and shared our proud stripes, a commodity now, gel and antibac wipes. We stayed in for the heroes, all behind the front line, admiration and honour when that life could be mine.

But the people will out and when he was stopped breathing, the streets, there was protest, were once again heaving. They should stay behind doors! Very many complained, as they claimed sympathetic but yet they remained. Opinions and passions, safety and spreading, perhaps not so different in papers the headings, as what they once had been in those decades before. Some always get less, and some always get more.

And we strive for the change cause we want a world better, and we fight and campaign and belive that we matter. For we must and it’s maybe no difference how, the placard or the keyboard both mighty swords now.

And now back to normal or new normal now, reluctant we read of the news of the hour. All can change in a day, but the change that has been will stay with us forever, will always be seen. How we’re blessed to have found out how much a hug means, now at last we are let out from behind our screens. Pride has changed cause and colour, let that be a truth, one we all share, all races and the old and the youth.