A Proud New World
By Dylan Asher
June isn't an ordinary month for queer-identifying young man like me. For those that don't know, June is Pride month. Pride is a celebration of the existence and resistance of queer individuals since the Stonewall Riots in 1969, however, 'Pride' as a celebration didn't exist in 1994. Originally, it was intended that Pride be celebrated on the last Sunday in June, but it has since been extended to a month long celebration. It's interesting to see how the U.K. and many other countries have taken such a strong hold on an event in American History that is so poorly taught and how much 'Pride' (pun slightly intended) they have in celebrating queer indentities. From tube stops to street signs, from store logos to legitimate banners and hanging art, it's unmistakably clear that the United Kingdom appreciates their diversity and dedicates their resources to supporting equality-- a feat that even America, birthplace of the Stonewall Riots, has a hard time achieving.
Before I go much furher, I'd like to explain the history of pride and it's relevance to clarify for some people-- yes, even students on the Mayborn in Londo trip. Pride Month commemorates the aforementioned Stonewall Riots, a violent clash of between queer rights protestors and police where Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two trans women of color, threw a shot glass at homophobic officers and incited a mass resist of arrest from an oppressive police state. Why do we commemorate this? People are so quick to say "violence solves nothing" But, as with all other civil rights movements, a community of people suffered decades of indignities. In short, same-sex preference was considered to be unlawful and illegal. Thus, it's important to acknowledge the incitement of queer resistance as demonstrated by our foremothers because the fight isn't over. As the timeline of queer livelihood progresses, you see that gay individuals were denied access to basic healthcare during the times of the AIDS crisis, silencing thousands of transformative, queer voices. To put it in retrospect: my mother, a life long gay advocate, buried some of her best friends due to Reagans poor excuse of an administration. Later, queer individuals were denied the right of medical visitation, military service, adoption, and still marriage. It wasn't until two years ago-- yes, TWO years (2015) that same-sex relationships were finally recognized by the Supreme Court. Does that not sound outlandish? Then, last year, the deadliest mass shooting in American History occurred at Pulse night club, an attack on the Latinx community that still, to this day, shakes our community to its core. It is yet another reminder that there are struggles we have yet to win.
I spent the weekend in Dublin, Ireland and, to my surprise, I managed to make it to another country during their pride festival. To see the streets paved with rainbow flags and feel an aura of unity was almost indescribable. It felt almost like a unity between church and state to celebrate a movement of liberation. The parade was proudly supported by the Dublin City Council and even received recognition from some of the churches within the Dublin area. The streets were inundated with people-- identifying as queer or straight, trans or cis. In fact, Leo Varadkar, the Fine Gael leader of Ireland who is also an openly gay man celebrated in the streets, too. It was a beautiful act of unity. And, while I should've been bewildered at the scope of this event, a part of me felt empty. How can I behold a physical representation of the queer imagination when, back home, America refuses to believe that queer identities exist. In fact, for the first time in 8 years, the presidential administration did not acknowledge pride month.
On our tour of counter culture, we saw the American Embassy. There I saw two pride flags hanging. An act of symbolic speech that so loudly resonated with the U.K. citizens. However, it's a facade. In america we are currently under the run of the most oppressive presidential administration in history. From a president who held up an upside down, defaced pride flag to a Vice President that openly supports electro-conversion therapy for queer individuals. At this point, it's incredible to see solidarity among other nations, but from the perspective of an American-- and an openly gay one at that-- it's still a hard pill to swallow. Still, I will push forward to see change within the states and do my best to be a queer activist and advocate My advice to anyone that is queer-identifying or wants to be an ally is this: call things out. It's easy, when in the presence of certain people, to say that you stand for tolerance and acceptance. But actions speak louder than words. The word "homophobic" gets thrown around all too easily-- I myself am guilty of using it lightly. And, oftentimes, people think homophobia comes in one clear form. But, like bodies, it comes in many shapes and sizes. So, from one person to many, if you want to be a progressive person-- regardless of your political ideology-- if you hear something defamatory or slightly hurtful aimed at a minority group, you should always say something. Do it for those who don't have the platform to speak for themselves.
Lastly, if you're in the presence of a queer individual, making jokes at their expensive itsnt cool. It's kinda shitty and makes them feel bad.
Edit- Germany Parliament approved Marriage Equality!
June isn't an ordinary month for queer-identifying young man like me. For those that don't know, June is Pride month. Pride is a celebration of the existence and resistance of queer individuals since the Stonewall Riots in 1969, however, 'Pride' as a celebration didn't exist in 1994. Originally, it was intended that Pride be celebrated on the last Sunday in June, but it has since been extended to a month long celebration. It's interesting to see how the U.K. and many other countries have taken such a strong hold on an event in American History that is so poorly taught and how much 'Pride' (pun slightly intended) they have in celebrating queer indentities. From tube stops to street signs, from store logos to legitimate banners and hanging art, it's unmistakably clear that the United Kingdom appreciates their diversity and dedicates their resources to supporting equality-- a feat that even America, birthplace of the Stonewall Riots, has a hard time achieving.
 |
| A Pride advertisement, paid for by Transport for London |
Before I go much furher, I'd like to explain the history of pride and it's relevance to clarify for some people-- yes, even students on the Mayborn in Londo trip. Pride Month commemorates the aforementioned Stonewall Riots, a violent clash of between queer rights protestors and police where Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two trans women of color, threw a shot glass at homophobic officers and incited a mass resist of arrest from an oppressive police state. Why do we commemorate this? People are so quick to say "violence solves nothing" But, as with all other civil rights movements, a community of people suffered decades of indignities. In short, same-sex preference was considered to be unlawful and illegal. Thus, it's important to acknowledge the incitement of queer resistance as demonstrated by our foremothers because the fight isn't over. As the timeline of queer livelihood progresses, you see that gay individuals were denied access to basic healthcare during the times of the AIDS crisis, silencing thousands of transformative, queer voices. To put it in retrospect: my mother, a life long gay advocate, buried some of her best friends due to Reagans poor excuse of an administration. Later, queer individuals were denied the right of medical visitation, military service, adoption, and still marriage. It wasn't until two years ago-- yes, TWO years (2015) that same-sex relationships were finally recognized by the Supreme Court. Does that not sound outlandish? Then, last year, the deadliest mass shooting in American History occurred at Pulse night club, an attack on the Latinx community that still, to this day, shakes our community to its core. It is yet another reminder that there are struggles we have yet to win.
 |
| Carnaby Street in SOHO, a route on the Pride Parade |
I spent the weekend in Dublin, Ireland and, to my surprise, I managed to make it to another country during their pride festival. To see the streets paved with rainbow flags and feel an aura of unity was almost indescribable. It felt almost like a unity between church and state to celebrate a movement of liberation. The parade was proudly supported by the Dublin City Council and even received recognition from some of the churches within the Dublin area. The streets were inundated with people-- identifying as queer or straight, trans or cis. In fact, Leo Varadkar, the Fine Gael leader of Ireland who is also an openly gay man celebrated in the streets, too. It was a beautiful act of unity. And, while I should've been bewildered at the scope of this event, a part of me felt empty. How can I behold a physical representation of the queer imagination when, back home, America refuses to believe that queer identities exist. In fact, for the first time in 8 years, the presidential administration did not acknowledge pride month.
On our tour of counter culture, we saw the American Embassy. There I saw two pride flags hanging. An act of symbolic speech that so loudly resonated with the U.K. citizens. However, it's a facade. In america we are currently under the run of the most oppressive presidential administration in history. From a president who held up an upside down, defaced pride flag to a Vice President that openly supports electro-conversion therapy for queer individuals. At this point, it's incredible to see solidarity among other nations, but from the perspective of an American-- and an openly gay one at that-- it's still a hard pill to swallow. Still, I will push forward to see change within the states and do my best to be a queer activist and advocate My advice to anyone that is queer-identifying or wants to be an ally is this: call things out. It's easy, when in the presence of certain people, to say that you stand for tolerance and acceptance. But actions speak louder than words. The word "homophobic" gets thrown around all too easily-- I myself am guilty of using it lightly. And, oftentimes, people think homophobia comes in one clear form. But, like bodies, it comes in many shapes and sizes. So, from one person to many, if you want to be a progressive person-- regardless of your political ideology-- if you hear something defamatory or slightly hurtful aimed at a minority group, you should always say something. Do it for those who don't have the platform to speak for themselves.
 |
| Take notes, Trump. |
Lastly, if you're in the presence of a queer individual, making jokes at their expensive itsnt cool. It's kinda shitty and makes them feel bad.
Edit- Germany Parliament approved Marriage Equality!
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