“When is the straight pride parade?”

Every damn day.

With Wednesday being Transgender Day of Visibility, I was seeing many ignorant posts about gay pride, trans choices and even white history month. It was shocking that there are still so many people choosing to remain uninformed and basically oblivious. It was alarming that they are seemingly proud of it.

The Gay Pride Parade isn’t an in your face event to share their preferences. Since the 60’s when gay pride and awareness marches started, it’s about celebrating social self acceptance, achievements and legal rights. It helps bring awareness to same sex marriages and serving in our military. Those of us that are straight, we haven’t faced these challenges, therefore, we don’t need a parade.

Gay pride and awareness has been a work in progress for over 50 years. Clearly we still have work to do.

Love is love with me. I wish it were the same for all.

Transgender people face a gender identity different from the sex they were at birth. Trans people may identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or asexual (lack of sexual attraction at all), or may choose to not declare an identity regarding attraction. Transgender first began as simply ‘cross dressing’….. Transsexual are those seeking medical assistance to change their bodies to reflect how they are truly feeling and identifying inside.

Could you imagine living a life where you have to hide yourself? Sitting at the dinner table with your family and unable to share with your closest loved ones what you are feeling and facing? I can’t. Further still, knowing that to become whom you want to be opens you up to random hate crimes and violence, scrutiny, discrimination and possible exile from your own friends and family; it’s horrific to consider. Yet, it still happens today.

If someone chooses to serve our country, their sexual orientation shouldn’t matter; their qualifications should.

If someone wants to marry, their choice of spouse shouldn’t matter; their love and commitment should.

If someone wants to have a career, their identity shouldn’t matter; their skill set should.

So for the straight, white folks that are asking for their parades, history months and tv channels, take a step back. Review the history and check your oppression. We’ve had it pretty damn good, haven’t we?

Can’t we just be kind to one another because we are human?!