Pride month is coming to an end but that doesn’t mean that we should retire our pride attire. Visibility matters. As it says in the iconic flyer, Queers Read This:
Being queer is not about a right to privacy; it is about the freedom to be public, to just be who we are. It means everyday fighting oppression; homophobia, racism, misogyny, the bigotry of religious hypocrites and our own self-hatred. (We have been carefully taught to hate ourselves.)
For some people it isn’t safe to be out and visible. I want to acknowledge that reality. But it makes me feel all the more the responsibility to be out. When I wear one of my pride shirts, fly my progress pride flag at my house, or am out to my neighbor or colleague, it has the potential to shift perspectives. People come to see me as responsible, kind, funny, or as someone to whom they can relate rather than the caricature monsters or depraved that our haters portray.
And although there is much anger toward straight people in Queers Read This, I am finding more and more cisgender, heterosexual folks who embrace me and my family, who are taking actions to show their support for me and my communities. I invite more visibility from straight people. Their outness has the potential to change others’ views about us. Their outness about their support for LGBTQIA+ people will be the thing that changes outcomes at election time. They are not more important than queer folks but they are more numerous.
Pride is protest and we desperately need protest against things like the Skrmetti decision from SCOTUS, from attacks on our right to marry the person of our choice, and from the myriad attacks being leveled at transgender people. I urge cis-het people to show their support and to be visible as allies throughout the year. I urge those of us LGBTQIA+ who can, to be visible all year long. I’ll be looking for you as I walk through my daily life.
Still out and proud and visible whenever it is safe. Two steps forward, one step back – we continue to make progress decade by decade. We will never give up. All those straight allies are helping us move forward year after year!
Great note. I commit to be a visible ally.