We March in the Same Direction for a While

Gay Pride parades started as a remembrance of the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. The first gathering was held the following year. It was a silent protest then but it has become much more than that now. Like everything else, Gay Pride parades have evolved.

The parade has changed over the years because the gay community (using 'gay' here to include everyone) has evolved, has changed, has grown, has stumbled, has fought hard, has matured, has had victories and defeats. The parades reflect where the gay community is 'at'.

Some years the parades have been all "disco and light". Other years, the heavy-with-death years of the AIDS epidemic the parades were mere intense and strident with anger and rage. Where is gay community 'at' now? I guess, as always, it depends on who you ask. If I was asked I would be tempted to say something provocative like, "Gay is dead". By that I mean, our own old ideas of what 'gay' is are dead. We have to embrace a new reality about being a sexual or gender minority person and community. That reality is that we're not as hated as we once were. That's a new reality for us.

Make no mistake, the religious hysterics that live next door to Dave and me hate us in 2010 as much as anyone did in 1969. It's the systems that have changed. If we can work toward changing the systems that create discrimination and prejudice then we have created change on a large scale that no individual can take away. Where we are today, as a gay community, in my opinion, is that we have a new vista ahead of us.

Our allies are more numerous, more vocal, more at-ease, more passionate, more active, more unwilling to tolerate intolerance. The allies of sexual and gender minorities are the ones who keep the doors of opportunity open. Because straight allies can challenge others with more acceptance than any GLBTQIs can, we have made enormous strides.

We are actually able to consider, now, receiving all of society's benefits as legally united couples. We can actually now consider openly serving our nation in the military, in administration, in the government, in all its many expressions. Yes, we are not as hated as we once were. That "old school gay" self-indentity is dead. We're not as hated and we have more accessibility to all of society's resources. Yet, the systems are not yet changed.

The systems that create myths and fear are still very much alive even though they are changing. It's very annoying to those who fear/hate us that we would talk back to them. It's infuriating that the very ones who are considered disgusting (we) are the ones speaking up for themselves. When things get really tough for those who are afraid of life in all its diversity they lash out at us. It's an old story. Every persecuted group has had to endure it.

So what will this year's parade look like? Probably very familiar. Dykes on Bikes, mer-men, dancing leather boys, Lesbians with Corgies, Gay Dads, floats, beads, signs, rainbows, and so on. What's behind all that, however? A community in transition as it learns how to mature, how to be part of the culture without losing its identity, how to fire up the troops for the i
incredible struggle ahead, how to grow in spirit and peace? The GLBTQI community does not have a single united understanding of who we are. That's as diverse as anything can get. We are united, however, in knowing what we are NOT! We are NOT ever going back to the way things were. How to move forward is another question.

Every gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersexual person has their own hopes and dreams for how to live their lives fully and gratefully. If we are to progress forward as a culture, building on the work of our forebrothers and foresisters, then we will have discovered how to all walk together in the same direction -- like a parade. Walk with us on Sunday. Bring your own drum and pace but let's all walk togther.
Peace, Joe Tomlinson
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