Celebrating Pride is More Important Than Ever

Fascist movements can't stand gender non-conformity. It will get worse if you don't fight back

Now is the time to party hard and fearlessly. Let joy be our message. | Photo by Toni Reed on Unsplash

Celebration and joy is a potent weapon.

Pride emerged as a response to pain and outrage and injustice. It is celebrated in June as a remembrance of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. By 1970, one year later, it had become a national celebration and parade across the United States.

By ‘71, it came to Canada.

In 1999, President Bill Clinton declared that the entire month of June ought to be celebrated as Pride Month, and since then, that’s exactly what people have done.

There are people who think Pride is over and not necessary because gay rights have been largely accepted into the mainstream. First of all, there’s no reason to stop celebrating and partying and refusing to be shamed just because there’s public acceptance.

I’d say that’s more reason to celebrate, not less.

And secondly… honey, have you looked at what’s happening? Not only should we bump the music louder this year, but we need to go back to the roots of Pride.

This year, Pride is once again a protest as much as a parade.

Queer people are under assault. All around the world, anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is rising, backed by a concerted effort by the people who own the largest media and social media corporations in the world.

A hateful meme shared on X can spread like wildfire, instigating hate from continent to continent. The shorter, quippier, and more memorable it is the more impactful it is as propaganda.

Propaganda works, unfortunately.

The best way to fight it is by being visible, vocal, and present. We defeat their control by proving that we do not fear them; we’re fucking pissed off.

LGBTQ+ people and their allies have fought hard to get to the level of lukewarm acceptance we achieved before we hit this stumbling block, and I for one am not going back.

I don’t care if you’re ace like me, trans, bi, gay, lesbian, pan, aro, non-binary or whatever identity feels the most authentic to you — you are valid, loved, and deserving of all of the happiness life brings.

So claim it. Don’t let them take that joy from you. Be loud, be out there, be angry and be a force for truth.

Celebrate right in the faces of the assholes who want us to be ashamed.

Been there, done that, never ever again.

Solidarity wins.

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