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Ah, Pride month is here. I know this because Target and Macy’s both have their displays of requisite rainbow clothing, a garment to wear that says, “look at me! I’m-“ I’m what, exactly? Gay? Queer? Something on a spectrum to be labeled? And why is this month different than other months?
Pride Month, like many things in culture and history, is complicated. Its history is a wonderful mix of defiance, joy, sadness, and most certainly, passion. To me, Pride Month is a celebration of who we are, a reminder of where we’ve been, a protest against injustices, and a joyous hope for a better world to come. As a celebration, Pride month allows us all to be who we are, in whatever form that takes. My name is Tom, I use he/him pronouns, and I identify as Bi. A few months ago, I was at a performance of the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus. One of the men had a service dog, and during the question and answer period a high schooler asked “whose dog was it?” The gentleman shared an answer I will not soon forget. He said that the service dog was a promise to his longtime partner who died from AIDS. He would continue to use his voice to make a difference in this world, fighting for equality and rights. Not that long ago, being gay meant not having the same rights as others, with the very real possibility of being arrested. Newsweek summarized the complex history of Pride here: https://www.newsweek.com/pride-month-2019-stonewall-50th-anniversary-history-lgbtq-america-history-1440491. Sophia Waterfield writes, “You have to understand that in the 1950s all U.S. states had laws criminalizing same-sex sexual behavior. You could be arrested and even imprisoned for even proposition[ing] someone for sex in public. Lesbians and gay men were routinely fired from their jobs if their boss or coworkers discovered their sexual orientation. “The laws criminalizing same-sex activity gradually disappeared from state penal codes over the years but the U.S. Supreme Court only called them unconstitutional in 2003 in Lawrence v. Texas.” I find it amazing that the current generation of youth are so accepting of others’ sexual and gender identities. Is the world at 100% acceptance? I would be naive to say yes. But it’s far better than even a decade or two ago, which is great progress. Each Pride event is an opportunity to demand acceptance, to demand the same basic rights as any others - human rights. The right to exist, the right to be free in one’s actions, the right to love, the right to body autonomy, the right to dance - every right that is afforded to heterosexual, cisgender people should be applied in the same positive manner to everyone on the gender and sexuality spectrums. Pride reminds us what the best in all of us can be - welcoming, inclusive, and, well, proud. I love being a part of this wonderful community of LGBTQ+, but there are times where I feel I don’t belong. I sometimes wonder, “am I ‘gay’ enough to be a part of a conversation?” Because I have done some things and not others, do those things make me less of an LGBTQ+ person? As I look back at the history of Pride, and where we are today, seeing the amazing people who are so welcoming into the LGBTQ+ group, I can answer my own question - if you identify in any way or part of this group, then you are a part of this amazing band of humanity. So, here I am with this message to you. Pride month is just that - a moment to let yourself be proud. Be proud of who you are. Be proud of where we’ve come as a group. Be proud of where we’re going. I may even buy something rainbow this year.
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 (pictured on far right)
Aryn T. | Alumni | Team: 4982 | Pansexual | 2016 – Present Why did you get involved with FIRST? I joined my team in 2014, our rookie year, and have been involved ever since! We went to worlds on Rookie All-Star and I fell in love with the environment and the community and can’t imagine leaving it. Why did you join LGBTQ+ of FIRST? I joined LGBTQ+ of FIRST after noticing a lack of diversity within the community, and where there was diversity, a lack of acceptance. I wanted to create an opening and welcoming environment for any person to be accepted and acknowledged. What are you most looking forward to this competition season? I get to meet countless friends this season, from all over the world. My experiences with the FIRST community have been so positive and I’m so excited to meet the people who have made my time in FIRST so great! Val | Senior | Pansexual | 2017 – Present
What is your favorite experience with LGBTQ+ of FIRST? This might be more of a collection of experiences, but I’ve always loved the late night karaoke sessions we’ve had on the Discord server. Even though people always seem stressed from school or work, we sometimes have these karaoke sessions that just go on for hours with songs from hit musicals, cartoons, and competition. While we sometimes only know each other as a group of names, pictures, and words, karaoke and conversation bring a feeling of togetherness, an organic display of who we are behind carefully curated collection of thoughts we control within our keyboards. It’s a reminder to me that there’s always someone there for support. What are you most looking forward to this competition season? I’ll be doing game announcing training at New York City Regional, but I’m super excited to see how strategy varies between different regions. I haven’t had too much of an opportunity to focus in on regional variants of strategy in the past, so I’m hoping we get to see the game evolve into different branches. What is one cool thing you’ve learned lately? I recently learned how to make origami cranes in my Japanese class, as we’ve been working on a 千羽鶴(Senbazuru) to send to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The process of making origami is very soothing, and papercraft in general is very comforting.  Errica C. | Senior | Team: 1073 | Female | Pan | 2016 – Present
What do you do on your team? I’m the CEO/captain of 1073. Previously, I was the software VP/lead. Why did you join LGBTQ+ of FIRST? I’ve always struggled with self-confidence and allowing myself to be anything beyond others’ expectations. FIRST gave me the opportunities I needed to open up and learn to take a stand for my identity, and LGBTQ+ of FIRST is a chance for me to pass it forward for others in the community. What are your goals for the future? Currently, I plan on majoring in computer science and entering the medical field. Danielle E. | Senior | Team: 1339 | West | Female | Pansexual | 2017 – Present
Why did you join LGBTQ+ of FIRST? I was about a year into a non-straight relationship and still questioning my sexuality and I wanted to engage in a community where I would find friends who might be like me. When I saw the truly fantastic community LGBTQ+ of FIRST cultivated, I decided that I wanted to support it’s growth and get other people connected to it. What are you most looking forward to this competition season? The regionals my team is attending this year are looking really competitive so I’m excited to see everyone having some serious fun! I also did a lot of my team’s artwork for imagery this year so I’m hoping we’ll get to trade shirts with a lot of teams and hopefully win the imagery award! (fingers crossed!) What are your goals for the future? I plan on studying Computer Science and Graphic Design in college next year with hopes of going into Web Design. I’m also into knitting so hopefully I can develop that craft and try making a sweater.  Cyprin M. | Junior| Team: 4135 | West | Nonbinary | Pansexual/Poly | 2017 – Present
What is your favorite experience with LGBTQ+ of FIRST? My favorite experience with LGBTQ+ of FIRST is probably spreading the word – seeing people’s excitement not only at the pins but at the realization they aren’t alone in this….it’s truly the most amazing thing. What are you most looking forward to this competition season? Competitions, of course! The atmosphere, the rush, the excitement – It’s incredible. I’m especially excited for this season, though, because I get to help with LGBTQ+ of FIRST outreach! Recommend a book, movie, album, podcast, etc. to us. I’m hooked on Maker youtubers again, and right now I really like the Make Anything 3d printing channel. He turned a CNC laser engraver into a laser PEN.  Kiran Loewenstein | Senior | Team: 2826 | Lesbian | 2016 – Present
Why did you join LGBTQ+ of FIRST? I got involved with LGBTQ+ of FIRST through two of my good friends who were part of the organization. After helping promote Women in STEM, I quickly fell into the rabbit-hole of advocacy, and have enthusiastically supported and helped to shape LGBTQ+ of FIRST’s future since joining. What are you most looking forward to this competition season? In my fourth and final year, I can’t wait to operate for my team as well as see where these last six weeks have taken me and my team. Selfishly, I’d also love to be an alliance captain at a (season) competition – I want that armband! It’ll also be great to have another year of trying and hopefully not failing to make my autonomous modes work, and to see the other students take a step up at competition. What is one cool thing you’ve learned lately? To fly in the Soyuz (a Russian spacecraft), the Russians pour a plaster mold that is fit exactly to the astronaut’s body and spacesuit, and it’s apparently very uncomfortable.  Kira K.| Senior | Team: 5683| Lesbian/Demiromantic | 2016 – Present
How did you get involved with FIRST? I got involved in FIRST when my best friend suggested I join robotics. Originally, I thought I wouldn’t fit in, but after doing VEX during first semester freshmen year- I knew robotics was somewhere I belong. After joining FRC during second semester, I was having so much fun I realized that robotics- especially programming- is where my heart lies. I’ve had the best past two years with this team, and I’ve learned so much about life. Robotics is truly a great character builder. What is your favorite experience with LGBTQ+ of FIRST? My favorite experience with LGBTQ+ of FIRST is all the awesome people I’ve got to meet- whether it be on tumblr, in the discord, or in real life at competitions. It’s always so cool to see people so excited about the initiative and to hear their stories. I think one of the coolest moments is that when I explained about the blog to my mentors, by the end of last season, two of them were comfortable enough to come out. Recommend a book, movie, album, podcast, etc. to us. Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson Maddox C. | Junior | Team: 2197 | Gay | 2016 – Present
Why did you get involved with FIRST? When I was in 7th grade, the high school robotics mentor visited our middle school and asked me one question: “Do you want to build a robot?” The answer was yes. I joined FTC that year, and I’ve been in FIRST since. Why did you join LGBTQ+ of FIRST? I felt alone in the FIRST community, and I didn’t know how to be open about my sexuality to my team. I came across a small blog, and on a whim, I decided to apply. After joining the blog, I realized the amazing thing we could bring to FIRST: a community of our own. Recommend a book, movie, album, podcast, etc. to us. I’m currently reading John Lewis’s autobiography, Walking With the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement, and I’d recommend it to anyone who’s looking for an eye opener and a good author!  Eilis S. | Junior | Team: 4750 | Lesbian | 2017 – Present
What do you do on your team? I am safety captain as well as a member of mechanical and one of the business leads. Why did you join LGBTQ+ of FIRST? I joined LGBTQ+ of FIRST because it was an organization centered around the reason of why I joined robotics in the first place- making spaces LGBT+ safe. Recommend a book, movie, album, podcast, etc. to us. By far, my favorite album at the moment is Spiritual Dark Age by To Kill a King! |
About LGBTQ+ of FIRST
LGBTQ+ of FIRST is a student run organization that advocates awareness and acceptance of LGBTQ+ students, mentors, and volunteers of FIRST Robotics. LGBTQ+ of FIRST reaches out to over 1000 members across the FIRST regions and fronts multiple outreach endeavors. Archives
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