Hey guys long time no talk! Sorry I have been absent on here lately! Life just gets a little crazy sometimes and you need a second to reset and refocus. I’m back baby and ready to share a very special post with you all. As you may or may not know, June is LGBTQIAP+ Pride month. And happens to be one of my favorite times of the year.
In Houston, Pride weekend started on June 21st and ended on June 23rd. And although to most it may just look like just a massive party weekend, it’s important to understand what’s being celebrated and why. So let’s take a trip back in time to the humble beginnings of Pride in 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall Riots in New York City in 1969. These riots sparked a revolution leading to a social rights movement and the reason we can celebrate today.
How to act at Pride
I sat down with a good friend of mine, Marlon to ask for his advice on how cisgender heterosexuals can enjoy the festivities in a respectful manner that doesn’t minimize the importance to the LGBTQIAP+ community. Here are some of his suggestions of how to be an ally at Pride month festivities whether you’re in Houston, or not.
Be open to new experiences!
Pride is an amazing celebration of inclusion and acceptance. Leave your judgment at home! You are going to see things that might be out of the norm for you. Embrace it with an open heart. Use this opportunity to give love, have fun, and celebrate the freaky, fantastical and downright fabulous! Everyone is there to celebrate their uniqueness and you should too!
Treat everyone you meet with respect.
This should be a no brainer. Being an ally means standing up for groups that are unfairly targeted and discriminated. A seemingly small measure that could mean the world to someone is addressing them the way they would like to be addressed. Using proper terminology is an easy and effective way to show your support and respect. Besides that, just be kind. It’s not a hard concept. Nobody likes a negative Nancy anyway.
Have fun
The most important rule of all is not really a rule at all. Have fun! Dress up in bright colors, wear glitter, dance and have a blast! This is an opportunity to let loose and celebrate all of our differences and our similarities. Because in the end, we’re all humans and love is love!
Being an advocate is forever!
Let me leave you with this closing thought. Pride may only be a month, however, your job as an ally doesn’t stop after Pride is over. Be a continuous supporter of the community. Stand up when you hear someone being homophobic, reach out to friends family or those in your community who feel isolated, vote for policy and politicians who support equality for all people. We can all do our part to vouch for exclusivity no matter who you are!
XOXO,
@rose_and_ruffles
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