Making Tracks
By Kat Bryant
One of the most awe-inspiring evenings of my life so far was June 24, when I attended the opening ceremonies of WorldPride in New York City with my brother and his husband (my other brother).
One of the things I love most about the LGBT+ community is the incredibly fun vibe that’s generated by a crowd of unique individuals expressing themselves joyously and openly — without inhibition or fear. It was humbling to be even a marginal part of that energy at this event.
We were treated to fantastic performances by Cyndi Lauper, Chaka Khan, Daya, Billy Porter, Ciara and Todrick Hall. (The latter two joined forces for a fabulous number featuring her troupe of all-female backup singers/dancers and his all-male cadre of same. It was the most entertaining bit of the night!)
In addition, several nationally known drag queens (some with inventive yet unprintable stage names) served up Las Vegas-level razzle-dazzle that blew us all away. We loved every moment.
But it wasn’t all glitter and glamour.
Host Whoopi Goldberg introduced several speakers during the course of the evening, including leaders of the three New York-based nonprofit organizations benefiting from the event: the Ali Forney Center, a community center offering services to homeless LGBT+ youth; Immigration Equality, an LGBT+ immigrant rights organization; and SAGE, which provides support for the elderly LGBT+ population.
Judy and Dennis Shepard also made an emotional appearance. Twenty years after their gay son, Matthew, was brutally beaten and left for dead in Wyoming at age 21, they continue to campaign for LGBT+ rights through the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Judy made a passionate plea for everyone there to help educate the public, and to advocate for compassion in the face of a hateful political climate.
Toward that end, here are a few basic terms for my readers who are unfamiliar with the community:
LGBT+: Stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and more — including questioning, intersex, asexual, pansexual and others. (You can look up the individual terms online; last time I checked, that won’t raise red flags with FBI Agent Alexa.)
Queer: Another umbrella term for that community. But when used improperly, it’s a pejorative— much like the “N” word. When in doubt, don’t use it.
Family: Members of the LGBT+ community consider themselves Family. Why? They have one another to lean on even if their blood relatives abandon them because of who they are.
Allies: Straight and cisgender (look it up) people who support and advocate for their fellow human beings.
I’ve been an Ally my entire adult life. My brother came out of the closet in the late 1980s, my son came out when he was a college freshman and one of my stepsons came out at age 14; so I’m also family of Family. (I love that my brother jokingly refers to my position as “Queer-adjacent,” though he also considers me Family.)
I tell you all of that to get to this: The issue of equal rights for all is very personal to me, because 50 years after the Stonewall uprising (again: look it up), it’s once again becoming an endangered concept for some of the people I love most in this world.
No matter our nationality, color or religion, we are all human beings. No matter whether we live in a house, apartment, car or tent, we are all human beings. No matter whom we love, we are all human beings. And we all deserve the same basic civil rights under American law. “Liberty and justice for all” means all of us, folks. When did this great nation forget that?
Pride Month ended June 30, but that shouldn’t mean Family and Allies should go silent for the rest of the year. To coexist peacefully, we must talk with one another, teach one another, find common ground.
Stay visible and stay vocal, my friends. We’ll get through this together.
Kat Bryant is lifestyle editor of The Daily World, editor of Washington Coast Magazine, lifelong Ally, and open distributor of Mom Hugs. Reach her at kbryant@thedailyworld.com or on Facebook at Kat Bryant-DailyWorld.
