Rainbow Guru: Should we also celebrate straight pride month?
During the pride month, we (people of the rainbow and our very supportive straight, cis friends) bow down to the sacrifices and efforts of the rainbow warriors, who came before us.
Why do gay people celebrate pride month? Should we also celebrate straight pride month?
It is with great ‘pride’ that I answer this question. For decades, the LGBTQI community has been on the receiving end of unnecessary hate, oppression and social ostracism. During the pride month, we (people of the rainbow and our very supportive straight, cis friends) bow down to the sacrifices and efforts of the rainbow warriors, who came before us. They had to endure so much so that someone like me can freely voice my opinions, live and breathe with the same respect and rights as a straight person.
It’s still a long way before every LGBTQ person can live in every part of our country without the fear of being ridiculed and questioned about stuff that is personal and private and need not be made a mockery of. Till that day, this is also our way of being visible – saying we are here and we will no longer hide.
Do you have a pride march in your city? Why don’t you go check out once. I promise you a great party, if nothing else.
(Psychologist and performer, Mr Gay World India 2014 Sushant Divgikar is your counsellor, guide and conscience through the choppy waters of sexuality)
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Write to him at sexualitydna@gmail.com