Pride Month

the inside-out look

On June 28th, 1969 Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson fought back against police who were running a raid at the Stonewall Inn - a Greenwich Village gay bar which was one of the few in New York City at the tie. These two transgender women of color stood up and fought back, throwing bottles or whatever they had at hand.

The seeds of resistance were sown that night and there was no going back. Stonewall was a catalyst that over the years has resulted in the changing of laws. It has caused people to think, to speak up and come out of hiding in support of one another and to fight the views of a society which automatically looked at anything different as wrong.

Globally, LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender), LGBTQ (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer) and other variants which include asexual, pansexual, intersexual, non-binary and questioning will remember and honor the events of that night in ‘69 with parades, proms, culture fairs, film festivals and local award ceremonies. That is the short list.

June is Pride Month for all!

In looking for the meaning of PRIDE I found an intense and loving group of people who are fiercely loyal to one another and embrace diversity. I talked with an educator who believes that the PRIDE celebrations not only help define their community but help others realize there is no need for fear or hatred. They are as proud of their own accomplishments as they are of their fellow LGBT members, and that generosity of spirit extends beyond their own circles.

One LGBT member explained that PRIDE education has helped him gain the acceptance from his family that he never thought possible. In turn, that has allowed him more self acceptance and a much more fulfilling life. As is true for all of us, being fulfilled in your own life allows you to have more empathy with the struggles of others. Your journey will give you the understanding you need to assist people who are still struggling to find

their way. LGBT Pride groups give you a support system where your differences are celebrated, and there is immense freedom in that. The journey has been a long one and there have been setbacks. Some feel that PRIDE should be more radical - reminiscent of the Gay Liberation movement of the 60’s and 70’s that shook people and made them pay attention. Radical or not, there have

been many achievements since June of 1969 which reflect the hard work and dedication of many members.

This is not even close to a complete list, but to give you an idea:

- In 1970 the American Medical Association removed homosexuality from their list of mental illnesses. - Ann Arbor, Michigan elected the first openly gay person - Kathy Kozachenko - to it’s city council in 1974. - July, 1980 saw the endorsement of a homosexual rights platform at the Democratic National Convention. - The state of Wisconsin outlawed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in March of 1982. - In 1998 Coretta Scott King received backlash from black civil rights groups when she urged that community to join the fight against homophobia. - The U.S. military can no longer ask an applicant their sexual orientation, nor can they force them to say.

The list goes on, and on - with each decade seeing its share of advances, and in some cases, defeat. - President Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 which defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman. - November 2008 saw California’s approval of Proposition 8, making same sex marriage illegal.

PRIDE is key in the LBGT community. It represents the accomplishments of many who have struggled over the years to be recognized and accepted for who they are. Pride means continuing to work tirelessly for the betterment of not just yourself, but those people in your community.

This is what gets laws changed and what helps people gain acceptance as a valued member of every community.

Sometimes, when the Q is seen at the end of LGBT, it can also mean questioning. This term describes someone who is questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity.

The word ‘pride’ is an integral cultural concept within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex (LGBTQI) community, representing solidarity, collectivity, and identity as well as resistance to discrimination and violence. Its associated symbolism (e.g., rainbow colors) communicates to individuals that LGBTQI members are welcome as valuable members of the community.

P - Professionalism: To be competent, accountable, reliable and responsible, interacting positively and collaboratively with all colleagues, students, patients, visitors and business partners.

R - Respect: To treat all others as you wish to be treated, being courteous and kind, acting with utmost consideration of others.

I - Integrity: To be honest, trustworthy and ethical, always doing the right thing, without compromising the truth, and being fair and sincere.

D - Diversity: To appreciate and celebrate differences in others, creating an environment of equity and inclusion with opportunities for everyone to reach their potential.

E - Excellence: To be dedicated, motivated, innovative and confident, giving your best every day, encouraging and supporting others to excel in everything they do. The flag, with its eight colours (sexuality symbolized by hot pink, life by red, healing by orange, the Sun by yellow, nature by green, art by blue, harmony by indigo, and spirit by violet), Stonewall was not a celebration, like many contemporary Pride events, but a revolt against oppressive laws and stifling societal values — a revolt that encouraged us to speak up proudly instead of hide ourselves away.

Our society understands in a general way that LGBTQ people exist and recognizes that there are some degrees of equality, but that it‘s still a work in progress to obtain legal protections across the board. For many people, “Pride Month“ means celebrating and accepting who we are and living freely and openly.

Sources: University of California San Francisco https://mrc.ucsf.edu/pride-values Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_pride