The LGBTQIA+ community still faces discrimination and obstacles,and homophobia has been a problem for far too long. But we are not alone, we are a community. Something our community does is help each other and offer support, even in the hardest of times. Being a part of the community is not about who you like or relate to, it is how you feel about yourself and the world around you, and being proud of who you are.
June is not a simple “special month”. June is a celebration of who we are, a reminder that we are here and won’t go away any time soon. Pride month is about showing our support for people in our community. Labels don’t matter in the big picture, just your action.
But, why is this so important? Pride month shows that we aren’t afraid of being who we are in any place, and that we accept any gender and sexuality, even if other people don’t. Pride month is here to demonstrate that you shouldn’t hide who you are in any way and that there always is someone to help you with your needs. It is a celebration of what we went through in the past for us to even be here, to write this article or teach a class.
One of the biggest events that has happened in our history is definitively the Stonewall Riots. The Stonewall Riots were a series of protests and demonstrations against a police raid that took place at Stonewall Inn, Greenwich Village, New York City, on June 28, 1969. At the time, few places would accept openly queer people, and those that did were bars and would be raided by the police very often. These raids generally occurred on weeknights in the early evening, when bars weren’t crowded, but the Stonewall raid was to take place on a Friday night, when the bar was expected to be full. Officers quickly lost control of the situation and attracted even more people, ready to riot and protest the incident. This prejudice and inequality continued on for years. Even today we continue to fight for our existence and rights. That is why Pride month exists, to remind people, including ourselves, that we are here even with everything we went through in the past.
In Barnstable High School, we have a growing community, accepting of any people and a place where you can find yourself. As the president of the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club we welcome all students and hope to give them the space they need to feel comfortable with themself and with others. It is an opportunity to meet people who are currently or have passed through the same struggle you are facing with the goal to help you accept your process and who you are. We meet on Thursdays after school from 2-3pm, help anyone in need of support and a place, host parties and even guest speakers. For example, this year we had a queer singer perform their music.
For more information on participation, see Randi Gallerani, our club advisor, in room 2733. Teachers, staff, even friends are of help if trusted. Don’t be afraid to open yourself in search of support.
This month is ours to feel prideful and comfortable. This school is for everybody, regardless of anything. If you need support, we will be here for you.
