A blog about pride

It's funny to me how torn I am writing this blog again this year. There are a multitude of reasons, but mainly it is because I want to make sure I can convey my feelings well. This topic is very important to me, it's close to home. Most importantly, I want to make sure that anyone in the gay community who happens to read will feel a sense of....yep that's right, PRIDE.

Last year I wrote a pride blog on a challenge given in a LGBT blog group for, well, obviously folks of the gay persuasion; as well as friends, family, and just plain ole' supporters of gays. It was a great blogging group, but it went away. Still, I figured I should challenge myself again this year. So, let's do this, shall we?

Last year I said, I can only say what pride means to me. And really, that is all I can do. But as I grow and change, I think I gain more understanding. Or, at least I hope I do. So, maybe my perception has changed some.

I suppose I could tell you that pride is all about equal rights. Equality the queer community so deserves to have. It is hard for me to understand why we in this country, the land of the free after all, have to fight so hard for basic human rights. The black community did it, women did it, and now the gay community is doing it. I have no doubt that their battle will be won, that's what happens here. Get enough people to care and you can do anything. But that's not what pride is about, not really.

I could tell you pride is about tolerance. But tolerance is such a patronizing word. We say it all the time, we preach it over the "intolerant." Tolerance means nothing more than, "I don't like you but since we have to share the same air space I'll do my best not to kill you." It is demeaning and rude to tolerate someone. So, that is not what pride is about at all.

Here is what pride means to me: acceptance. Acceptance of who you are. Acceptance of freedom and love and equality in all things. Acceptance of people to not fit into little boxes that we can neatly categorize and shelve. Acceptance of the amazing resiliance and strength of the human race. Acceptance of your fear of change and rejection and difference. Acceptance.

I hope we get it one day. I hope we really can look all human beings in the eye and love them, and mean it. I hope we can take joy in our differences. I hope we can all take up the sprit of pride. My challenge to all of us is to do just that. Take on the spirit of pride. Be proud of who you are; be proud of the amazing, radical people who create change generation after generation; be proud of the freedom we have and work to change the freedoms we don't. Take pride in the gay community, celebrate this time with them. If you are a part of that community, hold your head up high. Honor the memory that this week, this month has come to represent.