Diversity Rules Magazine - _lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning_
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1124794
19 Diversity Rules Magazine June 2019 Pride - Con't from page 5 throughout the na on. This is a travesty, and an in- sult to those who risked their lives to be able to be who they were, in a period of our history that was not accep ng of queer people. I believe, given our current poli cal environment that has been polluted with fake Chris ans spewing their phony religious pronouncements of faith, and their a empts to corrupt our na on's governments with their skewed and vile paradigms of what they think America should be, we need to recapture a bit of that radical spirit that was everpresent in the pride events following the Stonewall riots because the situa on today is no less grave than it was in June of 1969. There are just different players in the- game who wish to silence us and relegate us back to the closets from which we fought so hard to emerge. The a empts to remove hard-fought rights and privileges accorded to everyone else but denied to those because of their sexual orienta on and gen- der iden ty, has become an accepted prac ce, with laws being passed in the name of religiouis liberty, that in effect allow businesses and others to deny service, medical care, other important life-saving procedures to LGBTQ+ individuals. In sum, 2019, sadly, has brought an onslaught of derogatory and dehumanizing legislataive ini a ves that are an af- front to basic human dignity, and empowered by a repulsive federal government spearheading many of these an -LGBTQ ini a ves. These are the reasons pride season is important to me and reasons why I unabashedly do and say what I do, and proudly and loudly express myself, while at the same me not being afraid to speak my truth. We must be proud and loud about who we are and of our individuality. We must be proud and loud in the face of persecu on by homophobic bigots. We must be proud and loud in remembering those who came before us who took a stand and did not back down in the face of police persecu on. We must simply be PROUD AND LOUD and demand the right to live our lives in peace and with those whom we love, like everyone else, without fear of repercus- sions for doing so. We will not go back. We are here to stay. Our detractors will ul mately be defeated and forced back under the wet, dank rocks whence they came. Happy Pride everyone!