With Pride … Once again!
Be Proud. Be Visible. Get Connected.
As June is here again—and Gay Pride
is celebrated around the country—I am reminded of the
history and struggles of a community once ostracized, and
people often treated as second class citizens. 40 years ago,
the Stonewall Riots gave way to what allows us today, to
march, congregate, and celebrate. For those of you too young
to remember, this wasn’t a group of highly organized individuals
or a slick, marketed event ... it was a group of marginalized
men and women who were sick-and-tired of “respectable” society
using that marginalization as a pretext for further harassment
and abuse. While the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought
back, a line was drawn, and a message was sent. “You
may think anything you like of us,” it read. “But
you will no longer make our lives any more difficult than
they already are without a fight. We will not go quietly.
We will fight with anything we have at our disposal be it
a spike heel, a broken beer bottle, or high-profile lawyers
and campaign contributions. And eventually, we will win.
Because we are right, and our cause is just.”
Our fight is not over. Our pride is steeped with diversity
and awareness. The road is a difficult one and each day we
are reminded that hatred, bigotry and ignorance exist. Take
a step with pride, and with some of that anger that those
who marched before you had as you continue to further our
fight for equality and freedom. Take a step, with your families,
loved ones, partners, children and friends and put a face
to our cause. Take a step and support the businesses and
organizations who offer places of refuge, celebration and
community. Take a step and contribute in any way that you
can to the causes that continue to impact our community.
As Madison prepares for our Pride this August (PROUD-VISIBLE-CONNECTED),
I invite you to celebrate, march, and congregate with us.
Be Joyful. Be proud. And remember... We are right, and our
cause is just.
This year’s theme for Wisconsin Capitol Pride reminds me
of the core of what being part of the Madison LGBTQA community
means—show your Pride as you live your lives. Be visible.
Make it impossible for people to not know and respect and
admire someone from our community. Get connected. In this
technologically advanced society—reach out not only through
your keyboards but connect with actual people, community
organizations and fund raising and outreach events and share
in our heritage!
Yours in Pride,
Dino & Jason |
