Happy Pride 2023!

"Mariefoxprice83;c-18284421" wrote:

"DaniRose2143;c-18284407" wrote:
As the calendar turns over to July it strikes me how unnecessary it is to have a Pride month, or a Black History month, etc. These are things that we should be accepting and celebrating every day, every month, every year. Not setting aside a certain period of time to celebrating them but simply accepting them as realities that are every bit as real and valid as any other. It's not a good sign in a civilized society that we have to carve out a single day, week, or month to celebrate one way of living or being. The entire rainbow of humanity should simply be, every second, every minute, every day. The fact that the person next to you has black skin, brown skin, or whatever 'color' skin shouldn't matter. Who cares if they love the same or opposite gender. Nobody lives inside another's heart and mind, so how can they say that person is wrong for knowing that their heart, body, and soul doesn't align with the gender some doctor assigned them simply by looking at their exterior in that split second that they emerged from their mothers womb.

Simply love and accept the person next to you even if the way they look and live is nothing like you. There is no single right way to live and love unless your way of life is to suppress others and to advocate hatred and violence against them simply for having the audacity to exist and be who they know are. Life is not black or white, it really is a rainbow. If you want to limit yourself to one narrow definition of who people are and should be, godspeed to you, but don't expect the rest of us to willingly bow to those definitions. We welcome you with open arms and hearts, all we ask is for you to keep an open heart and mind and to accept and respect that humanity is more complex than you think.

I wish my parents thought more like you, but alas they are very much stuck in their old-fashioned views. I just wish it didn't take me so long to realise that their views on gender and race are so outdated .

I know exactly what you're going through.? I'm in my mid-40's and only now beginning to explore and express who I've always been. My parents gave me an ultimatum, I could be myself and be cast out forever, or I could be who they wanted me to be. I was 15 when they gave me that ultimatum and I chose them over myself. So many people tell us what we're experiencing isn't real. Trust us, it is very real. You cannot know what another person is feeling internally or who they are by what you see at a glance. The old saying about never judging a book by its cover is more right than you can imagine. The stranger, friend, or family member next to you might look convincingly male or female on the outside, but that's simply a covering. What's real is what's inside and that can only be seen if that person chooses to reveal it and too many people try to define and suppress us to fit their views because that's easier than understanding and acceptance. Understanding and acceptance takes effort but the rewards are worth it. You will find so many lovely people if you make the effort.

I see you and accept you for who you say you are.?