I was going to begin this blog on
the 1st of June for the beginning of Pride month but postponed it due
to the #AllBlackLivesMatter social media blackout and their continuing protests
which I am supporting on my facebook. So I decided to post the inaugural blog
post today on the 1st Global Pride Day, hosted as a virtual event online1
for 26 hours on end! This event was created to provide everyone in the
LGBTQIAPD+ community with a Pride event during COVID-19 when street parades and
events have been cancelled all around the world. I’ve been watching it continuously
on the Global Pride website all of today and loving it! No doubt, it’s awesome
to be marching in the Pride Parade in the street, there’s something powerful
about being physically in the middle of thousands of people as we all march,
celebrate and continue the Stonewall protests against the continuing human
rights violations against the LGBTQIAPD+ community. I find it so affirming and
inspiring every time I go! Nevertheless, I’d like to see this Global Pride virtual
event continue every year from now on, beyond COVID-19 restrictions, as a Pride
for everyone to watch and participate in online, as well as turning up to their
Pride Parade/March in person.
Virtual Global Pride adds to
Pride Month in important ways. I’ve found it fascinating, moving and empowering
to see videos and hear accounts from LGBTQIA+ people from so many countries and
cultures around the world. One, it shows that we are not some small, minority
community dotted here and there. As there is greater and greater awareness of
the broad range of gender and sexual identities (and the culturally different
ways these identities manifest themselves), it becomes apparent that our community
includes a huge number of people. By seeing organizations and individuals from
every corner of the world identifying with the LGBT+ community, it highlights
how we exist in every society and culture, irrespective of the level of
oppression and discrimination exerted to erase our community. Two, virtual Global
Pride provides a platform for the achievements and plights of LGBT+ everywhere,
so I was able to learn about countries which are either not talked much about
or only presented through a Western lens. Here, I was able to hear their own
histories and experiences first hand, directly from those who live in that
culture and country so I can try to see it through their eyes, which increases understanding
and empathy. This is an important aspect of this month, both in its capacity as
a celebratory Pride Month and as Pride History Month, so we are knowledgeable
about our community and become even more aware of the work that needs to be
done to save LGBTQIAPD+ lives and improve rights everywhere for everyone.
Two quotes from the virtual Global
Pride event I’d like to share here, which capture both life as a member of the
LGBTQIAPD+ global community and the spirit of this blog are:
“My silence will not protect me”
“Be loud, be proud, be visible on
the streets and online”
I’ll continue discussing virtual Global Pride over the next few posts.....
To select the schedule for your time
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