I started to tell you all about my awesome weekend and only got the first story written before I was overwhelmed with a busy schedule
So here's what happened on
Saturday, October 13th, 2018.[First of all, Saturday marks a year since I came out to the world on Facebook. I posted all about it in this thread back then, so there's no point in discussing it. It just seemed appropriate because...]I did something that I hadn't had the slightest interest in, and I'm so glad I did. It turned out to be one of the most emotional things I've done.
Last week was Pride Week in Orlando.
@SassyCassie had shown me pictures of when she'd walked in the parade last year, and how incredible it had been. I was happy for her, but my line of thinking was, above and beyond my slowly-crumbling resolve to "fly under the radar" and avoid activism, that I had "no interest in being displayed like a circus animal." And to be honest, I was a little bit nervous. After all, Orlando is where the Pulse tragedy happened. There are haters out there, and I had no idea how many would show up at something like this, or what they'd do. That, along with Cassie's admission that she wasn't really interested either, had me dismissing it as something I'd rather avoid.
However, as the time got closer, and I heard more friends talking about it, I started to wonder whether I was being biased and making an unfair assessment based on ignorance. It was only right that I should at least check it out, but I didn't want to go alone. I was just about to ask Cassie if she'd go with me anyway, when she told me she'd changed her mind, and would I like to join her with our support group in the parade? Duh.
We gathered around 3pm, put on our T-Network T-shirts, got our little T-flags and T-ribbons, decorated the T-ruck, and got out the T-banner.
It was interesting that the religious zealots haranguing us on our corner were treated more with humor than anger. They, of course, just got angrier. One guy's face was so red I thought he was going to have a stroke right there. In the past such things would have bothered me, but the
true love I could sense far overpowered their flavor of hateful love. They were dismissed as inevitable background noise.
A little after 4pm we started out. It was so different - and so much better - than I expected.
One hundred and sixty thousand people attended Orlando Pride, and it felt like all of them were lined up on both sides of the street for the entire route.
And they were all cheering for us. I didn't understand it then, and I don't understand it yet. All I know is I was on the edge of tears for the entire route, as I am now typing this out.
Were all those people there just because everybody loves a parade? Were they all part of the LGBT+ community? Did they have family members who were part of our world? Were they allies? Probably all of those and more that I haven't thought of. All I know is I was overwhelmed by all the acceptance and love in the air.
I'm not sure who took this picture, but that's my arm!
Everyone was smiling and shouting and waving, and I made a special effort to smile and cheer back at those who were wildly waving the trans flag. I saw at least five women holding signs that said, "Free Mom Hugs!" Cops were giving and getting high fives and hugs...
When the parade ended I had a chance to walk next to Marci Bowers for a bit and say hello again. She'd been riding one of the floats, and from the crowd I heard, "Doctor Bowers! We love you!"
We attended the ceremonies, and learned which politicians, local and state, are in our side. One state congressman spoke, then brought his boyfriend on stage to celebrate his birthday, and was surprised by his boyfriend proposing to him right on stage. He accepted happily and the crowd went crazy. The most prestigious annual service award was given to our own Gina Duncan, a transwoman who heads the transgender support arm of the Equality Council. We are making progress.
We walked around and got snacks, and I continued to marvel at the warm atmosphere; all the people enjoying each other's company, just being themselves, completely open, honest, authentic. It's strange to think that all those friendly people, and the loving, respectful way we all treated each other, is considered wrong and a threat to so many people. What are they afraid of?
I've run out of superlatives. It was an exhausting, emotional, completely fulfilling day. Maybe again next year?
Stephanie
