It’s a time to honor how far we’ve come - but also how much further we still need to go. The motive has always been - and should remain - political. A reminder to all outside and within the LGBTQ community of our thorny relationship with police and the laws that aimed to dehumanize us. In Canada, Toronto’s Pride was launched in similar fashion after protests erupted when police raided four bathhouses in February 1981 and arrested hundreds of gay men. Pride has been celebrated every year in June since 1970 after the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York, when police raided the Stonewall Inn. There is a level of social and systemic privilege not afforded to many members of the LGBTQ community in North America, and certainly in many countries around the world. Never has a person lost their job for being white or straight in North America, or been denied an apartment for being white and straight, or been leered at or attacked by strangers for simply holding hands with their significant others. More: Many have said things hurtful about the LGBTQ community in the past. More: Trump fears come true for LGBTQ: Column
The simplest expression to help illustrate the continuing need for these days and months (other than “every day is men’s day” or “white history is celebrated every month” or “straight pride is every day”) is that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Undoubtedly - and like clockwork - some will wonder: But what about "Straight Pride"? June is Pride Month, a time to reflect on and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer history. In March, some men will decry the need for an International Women’s Day, celebrated on the 8th. In February, it’s, “Well, what about White History Month?” It's assumed that our misguidance or rebellion can be fixed through therapy and that, perhaps, we will eventually abandon our lifestyle and become heterosexual.Editor's note: This column was originally published on June 1, 2018.Įvery time a month or week - or even a day - purporting to honor the achievements of a minority group starts, in storms some seldom-silent members of the majority with cries of “What about us?” It's assumed by much of the population that we are either mentally ill or dealing with residual emotional baggage brought on by childhood tragedy. We have been told that we are deficient and defective. You see, we have been questioned and accused, abused and diminished for the entirety of history. Pride is a statement, an attitude and a decision. Pride is a deliberate attempt to equalize a society. To us, pride is not a negative personality trait or a result of arrogance or insecurities. We don't sacrifice others' feelings as a means to create a higher image or impression of ourselves. We don't inflate our importance or try to deflate others in order to make ourselves feel or appear more important.
We are not arrogant or lofty or full of ourselves. But to me, and many of members of the LGBT, pride is not defined this way. It is often thought to be a negative trait and is described as a high, or inflated opinion of one's own traits, abilities and socio-economic position. We know from the Bible that it "cometh before a fall" and have been advised to "swallow" it occasionally. It's very presence and concept is ingrained in our society.