I want to take a moment to remember all of our trans sisters and brothers during GLBTIQ+ Pride Month, especially those at the front lines in the early years of GLBT struggles, they paved the way for our lives now. I was looking through my writings earlier today and found this poem I wrote in 2002.
TRANSGENDER PRIDE
T is for all Trans persons who have gone before us
R is for the Realities of our lives
A is for Awareness, Action and Acceptance
N is for Never again will we be silenced
S is for our Songs and Stories
G is for all Genders in between the two
E is for Expressing our inner beauty
N is for our unknown Names
D is for the Duality of our spirits
E is for the Essential truths of our beings
R is for Re-awakening to new possibilities
P is for Passing as what others need to see
R is for Reclaiming our ancient Roles in society
I is for the Invisibility of our history
D is for the Deaths of too many trans sisters and brothers
E is for Equality for Everyone!
Zythyra
Hi Zythyra,
I like what you wrote and I appreciate your sentiments.
I went to the Pride Parade in Boston on the 9th. We began in the Union United Methodist Church in the South End by having a service held by some very talented and inspiring religious leaders of different faiths. One of them was the Reverend Elder Troy Perry who was very animated and who was touching as well as humorous.
It is my first parade, but not my last. The Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick marched in the parade. The issue of Equal rights in relation to marriage was a big theme.
I felt like I was at home. Everybody was beautiful and the pride was beaming.
Some of us were saying that maybe in the future, there will be no need for the parade because we will be accepted and there will be no particular need to remind the world that we're here and we need to be paid attention to. But I think there will always be a need for Pride. One reason will be to acknowledge and memorialize those who came before us and who didn't make it. Another reason is that the Parade allows for public celebration of self expression for us. And, also, it is one way to ensure that we do not again become a forgotten people.
I really like the idea of reclaiming our ancient roles in society and being reminded of our invisible history. We need to find a way to recover our history - what's left of it in terms of records and facts that were attacked and eradicated by the established order.
Pride,
Rebecca
QuoteSome of us were saying that maybe in the future, there will be no need for the parade because we will be accepted and there will be no particular need to remind the world that we're here and we need to be paid attention to. But I think there will always be a need for Pride. One reason will be to acknowledge and memorialize those who came before us and who didn't make it. Another reason is that the Parade allows for public celebration of self expression for us. And, also, it is one way to ensure that we do not again become a forgotten people.
Rebecca,
I also hope for the day that we don't need parades and pride celebrations anymore, but with thousands of years of oppression, and contemporary struggles, I think we still need ways to remember and acknowledge those who came before us.
That's great that the Governor marched in Boston. There aren't any pride celebrations that I know of in NH this year. We helped to host a GLBTIQ Pride Month coffeehouse at our local UU church on Friday. It was a small crowd, but a really special evening, various people sang songs.
QuoteI really like the idea of reclaiming our ancient roles in society and being reminded of our invisible history. We need to find a way to recover our history - what's left of it in terms of records and facts that were attacked and eradicated by the established order.
Years ago I read an amazing quote from author Jamaica Kincaid, to paraphrase, one cannot tell the stories of an oppressed people using the language of the oppressor.
I'm still trying to create the language to tell my story.
zythyra