Gay pride, or the annual LGBTQ celebration of recognition is something our that current culture has become accustomed to. Unfortunately this event, initially geared towards visibility, has recently become more of a sideshow attraction where curious residents attend to show solidarity with their neighbors, only to be horrified by grown adults behaving debaucherously. Smaller events in smaller communities see less depravity, but major cities like West Hollywood or San Francisco witness public acts of indulgence that make most people blush or hide their children’s eyes. Being seen in a community doesn’t mean forcing a community to host an event for your difference, rather it involves being engaged, supportive, and uplifting to your neighbors.
In 2016, my husband and I helped coordinate the most successful pride celebrations the Antelope Valley had ever seen. Major sponsors, like Coca Cola, Andy Gump, Wells Fargo, US Bank, and Rally Chevrolet donated supplies, advertising, and funding to put on a memorable event. Our commemoration saw a section of downtown Lancaster close off a portion of its beautiful district with the city’s blessing, not their funding. Our city donated road closures, and security in the form of uniformed and undercover officers who volunteered to ensure a safe, friendly environment. Similarly, the City of West Hollywood does not involve itself with gay pride aside from security and street closures, rather they delegate the event to Christopher Street West, a coordination company to plan, advertise, and organize their yearly festival.
Gay Pride should be non partisan and informative for everyone in the community and our local event had Democrats, Republicans, Churches, animal adoption agencies, vendors, and local chapters of community organizations like the NRA. Our local NRA was offering free gun safety lessons to women as part of the event, and when it was explained how transwomen are often the victims of physical & sexual violence, the chapter opened up their policy and program to include transwomen as well. The LGBTQ board of directors who initially called my invitation to such groups as hateful and destructive, soon ate their words when the community reacted positively. I have always been of the mindset that we should exist as part of the community, not apart from it.
Communities are welcome to celebrate diversity in whatever way they decide, but to have a city host ANY event outside of an Independence Day is in poor judgment. We are all Americans after all. When the floodgates open and cities host any event, even Christmas events, it opts to alienate a part of their community by taking a visible support of one group over another. Local organizations & churches can and should work with the City to engage residents in order to host events like Gay Pride, Easter egg hunts, Harvest festivals, and Christmas for our neighbors. Coordinating with the council is paramount because it is not the city’s responsibility, duty, or place to build your pride, that is ours, and ours alone.
