i never understood the hate…

One of the reasons I love Pride Month in New York City (and New York City in general) is because it celebrates the very thing this country was founded upon. Freedom. The freedom for people to be their most authentic selves and to be loved and supported by their community.

I had a lot of gay friends growing up, but they had to pretend to be straight. If they “came out” in deep-south Alabama in the 1980s, they’d be mocked and shamed, possibly beaten, or perhaps even killed. These were people I’d known since elementary school. They didn’t “turn” gay in first grade. They were born that way. I certainly don’t remember the day I turned straight. Because I was born that way.

I never understood the hate my friends in the gay community had to endure. I was raised in a conservative and religious home. I went to church every Sunday. And even though I got in trouble for “asking too many questions,” I remember learning two very important lessons: Judge not lest you be judged, and love your neighbor as yourself. And what my gay friends were experiencing from the so-called “Christian” community back then (and now, still) was anything but Christ-like.

My dad was a true bible scholar and a very spiritual man, but he was not a fan of organized religion. He specifically disliked what he called “holier-than-thou” attitudes and the hypocrisy inside the church. My dad loved and accepted everyone. He would bring homeless people and hitchhikers back to our house and make dinner for them. His motto was “love people, just love them.”

That’s how I’ve tried to live my life. And that’s why I’m fiercely protective and supportive of my LGBTQ+ friends and family. And to this day, I share my dad’s disdain for the hypocrites…

…the ones who’ve been married three or four times preaching about “the sanctity of marriage.” (what a joke)

… the ones railing against drag-queen-story-hour and the “grooming” of young children while ignoring (or in some cases justifying) historical and ongoing sexual abuse inside the church. Also, drag queens have been around forever. I grew up watching Flip Wilson perform as “Geraldine“ and never felt like I was being groomed.

…the ones who say they’re trying to “protect kids” from some sort of trans-agenda, but don’t give a fuck that 12 children die each and every day from gun violence.

…the ones who say they’re concerned about trans women in their daughters’ locker rooms, yet voted for (and currently worship!) a convicted rapist who bragged about “grabbing women by the pussy.”

…and especially the ones that quote Leviticus to justify their hate while wearing a poly-blend shirt and posting memes on Facebook about how much they love bacon.

These are the kind of people that will show up to protest at Pride parades. So I go as a way to try and counter-balance them.

On Sunday, June 29th, you’ll find me somewhere down in the West Village at the Pride parade…cheering on the LGBTQ+ community…championing love and celebrating freedom.

Because that’s what it’s all about.

update…photos & videos from the parade

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