Why do celebrations of joy and love draw such hatred?
Why are people who proudly proclaim their right to live, to exist in a world which many people say they have no right to, such a threat?
The LGBTQ community is well aware that many of our neighbors do not want us here.
In fact, that is why pride exists; the ironic thing is that if the people who spew hatred and threaten our lives weren’t here, then pride wouldn’t be here, either.
It is that hatred which sparked the first Pride events and continues to necessitate the public displays of our rights to live and love.
But ultimately, pride isn’t for you.
The LGBTQ community is far too busy celebrating to care about how straight people think we should do pride.
If you feel threatened by the existence of pride, I invite you to sit with that feeling — why does something which has nothing to do with you evoke such a powerful reaction?
The words printed in “No Pride Month” are hurtful, and the PDN needs to take responsibility for spreading hatred; giving a platform to bigotry is unacceptable.
These words remind us that we are not safe in our communities.
They remind us that we still have reason to fight, to celebrate, to proudly proclaim our rights to the same things that straight people enjoy without question.
To every queer person struggling today — I see you, you are an important member of this community, keep loving and fighting.
Syren Nagakyrie,
Forks