Diversity Rules Magazine

5 Diversity Rules Magazine June 2019 ignorantly state that we no longer need those plac- es to be with others like us is a grave failure to grasp the reality we s ll face, given the hateful rhetoric coming from our government. A government that has empowered those who support it, to openly and without remorse, to vilify and degrade LGBTQ individuals, and in some cases, cause physical harm to queer people. Establishments that predominantly cater to the queer community are safe havens for many of us, who seek comfort and solace from those like us. To say we no longer need these places, because we have become integrated into the mainstream is a grave injus ce to those s ll struggling with their gender iden es and/or sexual orienta on and who in mately know and understand that integra on/ assimila on has not happened, nor will it ever! Addi onally, many of us have been the target of dis- crimina on and harassment because of our sexual orienta on. Pride season is a me to stand up to the bigots and others who want to see us subjugated to second class status once again and use in- mida on and shame to achieve their ends. I am one of those who was threatened and it is a reason why I will always hold pride sea- son near and dear to my heart. I received an anonymous threat which warned of physical harm if I did not stop publishing my maga- zine, Diversity Rules. I had decided then that I was not going ever stop producing Diversity Rules and I would always speak my mind on equality and jus ce at all costs, no ma er the consequences. Pride season is a vehicle through which to do so. This pride season also brings happy memories when I am reminded of the exhilara on I felt, as the then City Clerk of the City Oneonta, of arranging to have City Hall open the Sunday same-sex marriage was legalized in NY. It was such an amazing day! There was also a wedding recep on following the closing of City Hall. It was an honor and privilege to be able to facilitate the day and have it become an even more memorable one for 3 couples because they were able to be legally married. I reflect back on my first pride celebra on in New York City, probably 20 years ago now. It certainly was a different animal than many of the pride cele- bra ons of today, and definitely much different than those of the very early years a er Stonewall. It was an amazingly electric experience, having nev- er been to any pride event before, since I had just nicely come of my dark closet, at a late age of 37. I remember a rela vely unsani zed pride, character- ized by a degree of debauchery, sexual innuendo, and people just expressing themselves in any which way they felt appropriate. The focus then was much less on corporate floats, and sponsorships, and much more on advocacy and celebra ng our uniqueness. Today's pride celebra ons, unfortunately, have be- come much more sani zed and corpora zed, with a greater emphasis on corporate sponsorships with their floats, and less emphasis on advocacy, protest and a free embrace of all queer folks who fall under the LGBTQI+ rainbow. Poli cal correctness, unfor- tunately, has sani zed many pride celebra ons in order to have them appeal to a broader swath of the American public. While I certainly feel more in- tegra on into the mainstream is a good thing, at the same me, I feel sad that a part of us is being subju- gated and lost to the desire to be non-offensive and to try to make everyone happy. Given our history, and what pride has evolved into, what is the future of pride celebra ons? Unfortu- nately, we will never have the marches and pride events that were spawned a er the riots of 1969. Pride events embodied rebellious energy, and a spirit of empowerment, intermixed with a radical- ism that was needed at the me. As our na on and society moved toward greater acceptance, the radi- calism, and the "out there" nature of pride parades became more subdued, and co-opted by those who, sadly, wanted to remove the fringe elements of our big rainbow tent from the public eye, due to a desire to not offend the corporate powers that be that have become standard in pride celebra ons Pride - Con't on page 19

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