LGBTQ+ of FIRST
  • About
    • Get Involved
    • Bylaws
  • Blog
  • Staff
    • Administrators
    • Representatives
    • Ambassadors
    • Moderators
    • Retirees
  • Partner Teams
    • FRC
    • FTC
  • Resources
    • Awareness
    • Coming Out
    • Crisis
    • FAQ
  • About
    • Get Involved
    • Bylaws
  • Blog
  • Staff
    • Administrators
    • Representatives
    • Ambassadors
    • Moderators
    • Retirees
  • Partner Teams
    • FRC
    • FTC
  • Resources
    • Awareness
    • Coming Out
    • Crisis
    • FAQ

What is the Pride parade all about?

6/29/2019

0 Comments

 
The first Pride parade was in 1970, in the beginning of the Gay Liberation Movement and following the Stonewall Riots. At the time, the opposition to allowing LGBTQ+ people to coexist with the general population was contentious: many LGBTQ+ people lived in “gay villages” or “gay ghettos,” with little opportunity and significant violence. The Pride parade was a statement that we’re a part of this world too and that we won’t be swept to the side. The well-known chant “We’re here, we’re queer” is a political statement, making it clear that we do not intend to be brushed away into ghettos or to leave behind who we are. There are thousands of us, walking down your streets, our streets, being who we are, and we’re not leaving. Despite the threats and legal assaults, the Gay Liberation Movement pushed through and made its message loud and clear.

    Fifty years since the Stonewall Riots, Pride looks a bit different than it originally did. Today, your average Pride parade is a time for celebration and includes city officials, companies, and the general public. There’s certainly a lot to celebrate. Over the last fifty years, dozens of countries have legalized same-sex relationships and begun to treat LGBTQ+ people as they would any other citizen. The road there was not easy and is not over, but Pride is when we look back and show pride in our accomplishments. 

It is also to show pride in who we are. Due to things like a general lack of acceptance, the stigma on standing out in this way, and the difficulties homophobia and transphobia has caused people in their lives, it’s easy to be ashamed or embarrassed to be a part of this community. However, it should be even easier to say that it’s a part of who you are and to be proud of it, just as you would for any other aspect of yourself. Going to Pride means seeing thousands of people celebrating what others would shun, making it just a bit easier to say that it’s something you’re proud. For me, going to Pride meant not feeling like the odd one out for the first time. I was free to feel good about myself without feeling the slightest judgment or strangeness, which is really something everyone deserves to feel.

    Despite the progress, things aren’t perfect now. Pride parades often are accompanied with protestors denouncing what they consider wrong or immoral. Even worse, Pride isn’t always a safe place to be, especially surrounding the parade. Just this year, we’ve had to deal with Nazis and active shooter scares. That same violence that the 1970s movement protested still exists today, intimidating and harming people simply celebrating who they are.

Whether in 1970 or 2019, the Pride Parade has the same message: we’re here, we’re queer, and we’re not leaving. And that’s something to be proud of.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    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.

    Connect With Us
    Email
    Discord
    Twitter
    Instagram
    Facebook
    Tumblr

    Archives

    June 2022
    March 2022
    June 2021
    August 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All
    Advice
    Anon
    Asexual
    Bisexual
    Coming Out
    Event Attendance
    FIRST
    FTM
    Gay
    History
    Lesbian
    LGBTQ+ Topics
    MTF
    Pansexual
    Personal Stories
    Polyamorous
    Pride Month
    Reference
    Resources
    Trans
    Uncategorized

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.