Pride 2017: Love is Love

All my life I have known I was different from most of the other girls or at least that’s how it felt. I liked girls and boys alike and to me there wasn’t anything wrong with it. I can’t remember when I knew others didn’t feel the same way and thought it was wrong for someone to like someone else of the same sex but I do remember knowing it and it being hard to hear when someone used words like “faggot” and “lezzy” regarding someone else when they were making fun of them. I was never personally called those names, but so many others around me were and it hurt me deeply that someone would ever want to hurt someone else just because they don’t understand that being a “faggot” or “lezzy” isn’t an adverse thing.

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There are people who hate most, if not all, people in the LGBTQ community - have called them vile names, brutally beaten, savagely raped, and/or ruthlessly killed them. Others have killed themselves for the bullying they have endured by the hand of someone so ignorant or just plain soulless. All these actions are senseless and shouldn’t be happening to anyone - we should be able to love anyone we want to no matter what their gender is. Love is love no matter what form it takes on - as long as both people are consenting adults.

Next month, in June, is Pride month. The LGBTQ community, in many cities, come together to celebrate who they are without limitations. Many people don’t get this luxury any other time of year - they have to hide who they are at work, hide from their landlords, families, bosses, and others who will hate them for who they are for no reason.

Kay Barnes KCMO Mayor

 I went to my first Pride event in June 2006 in Kansas City, Missouri. I was 25 and had only been out for 6 months (I was lucky enough to have a wonderfully supportive family and friend base, others, sadly, aren’t so lucky.) I went with my two female roommates who had been together for a few years and their female best friend. Their friend and I spent the day flirting and laughing together. A week later we were dating. I was brand new to the city - I had been there one week when Pride started. I went worrying I would have an anxiety attack or I would not enjoy myself. But, I truly had the best time I could have ever expected to have. The people were beautiful, colorful, and happy. Kids;

animals; older people; people my age; men; women; transgendered folks, so many wonderful souls all loving being together. The show was amazing, the vendors were fantastic, and the drag queens and kings were on fucking point.


The next year in 2007, I went with a friend and my broken heart from a fresh break-up. My friend and I just relaxed in lawn chairs and people watched while we sipped our Gatorade in the hot sun. It was the best medicine for my aching heart. Pride has been a place where I started something new and mended my heart after that ended. I wouldn’t change my experiences at my first two Prides, I learned so much about who I was by experiencing it through a different set of eyes both times.

I wish the world could be pride month every month and celebrate not only the beautiful and bright LGBTQ community but all people because we are all individuals and should be celebrating just that.

So next month, find a way to a Pride event near you even if you don’t fall into any category within the LGBTQ label, our community is in need of allies always. You might be surprised to find out that you will be surrounded by uplifting and hilarious people who just want to be themselves without restrictions or hate being cast on them.

 No Pants Required