With Pride … and Joy!
As June is upon us, and Gay Pride is celebrated
around the country, I am reminded of the history and struggles
of a community once ostracized, and a people often treated
as second class citizens. 40 years ago, the Stonewall Riots
gave way to what allows us today, to march, congregate, and
celebrate. For those of you too young to remember, this wasn’t
a group of highly organized individuals or a slick, marketed
event … it was a group of marginalized human beings
who were sick and tired of "respectable" society
using that marginalization as a pretext for further harassment
and abuse. While the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought
back, a line was drawn, and a message was sent. "You
may think anything you like of us," it read. "But
you will no longer make our lives any more difficult than
they already are without a fight. We will not go quietly.
We will fight with anything we have at our disposal be it
a spike heel, a broken beer bottle, or high profile lawyers
and campaign contributions. And eventually, we will win.
Because we are right, and our cause is just."
Our fight is not over.
Our pride is steeped with diversity and awareness. The road
is a difficult one and each day we are reminded that hatred,
bigotry and ignorance exist. Take a step, with pride and
with some of that anger that those who marched before you
had as you continue to further our fight for equality and
freedom. Take a step, with your families, loved ones, partners,
children and friends and put a face to our cause. Take a
step and support the businesses and organizations who offer
places of refuge, celebration and community. Take a step
and contribute in any way that you can to the causes that
continue to impact our community. As we train for the upcoming
ACT7 AIDS Ride, I implore you to support us or any of the
hundreds of riders in any way that you can—and specifically
embrace the important work the the AIDS Network does here
in Madison, and for our surrounding communities. As Madison
prepares for our Pride—in mid-August—I invite
you to celebrate, march, and congregate with us. Be Joyful.
Be proud. And remember … We are right, and our cause
is just.
Dino & Jason |
