Let me start by telling you a bit about myself. I am a bisexual, Caucasian, Blue-Collar class, agnostic, assault surviving, homemaker. I identify as female (technically I identify as frustrated, tired, mother), and I am pro-choice on both abortion and adoption. You still reading? I’m shocked.
Social media is absolutely full of LGBT Pride posts, events, rainbow like buttons, and frames for your profile picture to show your support this month. Most of you already know it’s because the month of June is considered LGBT Pride Month. An entire month dedicated to celebrations and parades for the LGBT community. June was originally chosen as the unofficial celebration, initiating as an idea for a week long celebration to commemorate the stonewall riots on June 28, 1969 in Manhattan…wait, a whole week for one day? Yep, you read correctly; they gave themselves an entire week in lieu of one day, which has now spanned an entire month. US Presidents began making official declarations to honor “Gay Pride Month” starting on June 2, 2000 with president Bill Clinton. Jump ahead to President Obama, and every year a declaration was made to honor this month. Now, it is also in observance of the legalization of same-sex marriages back in 2015.
The official definition of “Gay Pride” or “LGBT Pride” is as follows: Gay pride or LGBT pride is the positive stance against discrimination and violence toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people to promote their self-affirmation, dignity, equality rights, increase their visibility as a social group, build community, and celebrate sexual diversity and gender variance.
Now, I am all about having a positive stance against discrimination and violence against ANY PERSON. Every human being deserves equality and the ability to be themselves. Yes, I fully believe you are born gay, straight, bisexual, pansexual, etc. I believe people need understanding of all races, sexualities, genders, and religions. Without history, we cannot grow and evolve and we are forever doomed to repeat our mistakes. But can I say I have “pride” that I like girls and guys? Not exactly, I am proud of who I am yes, but being bisexual is only a small part of who I am and who I will be in future years. Have I been cut down and discriminated against for being bisexual? Absolutely. I have been mentally abused by family, friends, and strangers because I “like girls”, I have been assaulted for it, called numerous vulgarities, if you can think of it, it has probably happened. I fought against myself for many years, because it wasn’t “Christian” or proper. All in all, there are many reasons to educate the masses on the LGBT community; however, an entire month dedicated to “pride” is excessive.
Pride is not so much about increasing visibility (believe me, the straight people and homophobes see us loud and clear), as much as shock factor by today’s standards. People all over celebrate, whether they be a straight supporter or part of the diverse community, they bring their children, wanting them to be exposed and be accepting or a part of it. So please, tell me where is it ok that my 8-year-old daughter see a man in a g-string and chaps with his penis hanging down in a sock type of contraption positive? When is it ok that the same 8-year-old, and the three-year-old see a woman marching around in barely any clothes, or nothing at all except body paints? This is not the image we want our children to think is acceptable. Pride is not shock factor, pride should be a willingness to accept and a longing to educate.
Fast forward to October. October is the official LGBT History month. Falling in this month to coincide with national coming out day on October 11. National Coming Out day was established in 1987 to commemorate the Second March of Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Also in 1987, October was commemorated in observance of the First March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation by LGBT people in 1979. LGBT History Month is intended to encourage honesty and openness about being LGBT. LGBT History Month is a month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. LGBT History Month provides role models, builds community, and makes the civil rights statement about our extraordinary national and international contributions.
But wait, doesn’t that sound a lot like what Pride month is supposed to do as well? Yes, I believe it does. Why do we have two months out of the year dedicated to this community, my community? Pick a month. Either make June the official Pride/History month, or make it in October, but not both. You (speaking figuratively to others in the community) want dignity, equality, visibility and community? Stop acting a fool. Traipsing around with your boobs, butt, and sex organs out for the world to see is not dignified, it is not respectful, and no one will ever take you seriously. You want to look like that, then please take it back in the clubs and bars where children are not present. Clubbing and partying is one thing, but on a public street, marching for a positive image and acceptance is not the time or place to show out. When my children ask me why that person dresses that way, or acts like an over spoilt diva, am I supposed to tell them it is ok because they are LGBT? (And this goes for all walks of life) If you want respect, you have to show respect.
Why are we using the term Pride for a month of celebration/education? We have Native American History (heritage) Month, Black History Month, Asian-Pacific Heritage Month, Irish-American Heritage Month, Jewish-American Heritage Month, Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month, and Italian-American History Month. Do all these ethnicities and communities not have pride in where they come from too? Yet the LGBT community is the only one to have not just a History month but a Pride month.
But wait, Southern Momma, where is White-American Heritage month? That is a whole new pan of biscuits darlin’, but I will say this: In all these Heritage months we celebrate, we talk about role models, significant events, influential people in the distant past and not so distant (see role models), “white America” is taught and spoken of in most history lessons and schools. When we learn about the founding of our nation, the world wars, civil wars, etc., we learn about these people every day. The Heritage months dedicated to other ethnicities and communities is an opportunity to learn something new, to educate yourselves on something that was not commonly taught or even discussed.
“That’s a load of bullshit!” yeah, I hear ya. I hear you every damn time you scream it to the masses, but thanks to our society, the way we have raised our younger generations (mine included unfortunately), and the never-ending racism that spans all races and ethnicities, “white-american heritage month” will never happen, because anything a Caucasian person wants that might have anything similar to another movement, is racist and white privilege (another pan of biscuits my loves). So since I cant be proud of my skin color and where I came from (think not just white, but Southern Confederates), I hereby announce I will be claiming “Homemaker Pride Month” during the month of July (Not that I get the month off to celebrate running a household with young children in it) and I will be celebrating “Blue-Collar Worker Pride” in August (you know, when the school systems nickel and dime you to death with t-shirts, supplies, fund raisers, year books, etc).
To sum it up, to the rest of my LGBT community, pick a month. You are not any more special than the next sprinkle on my cake, and one month is plenty of time to educate on our history, as well as possibly show the world you are more than the stereotypical fairie, diva, and shock factor. I’m friends with many people from all different walks of life, and showing out, making a fool of yourself, scaring the straight people, doesn’t help what we are trying to do. Love is love, but have some respect too.
And now, at the end of my newly pariah status topic, I urge you to take the time to learn about the LGBT community, or any other group you find yourself uneducated on. I’m available for questions too, though I have a feeling my views are about to cost me subscribers and any standing in the community. All I have to say on that, is I hope to see you again and for those that I won’t, well…
Bless Your Heart. ❤
Southern Distractions 