By Kaitlyn Clark
Co-publisher, The Haldimand Press
In an ideal world, Pride Month doesn’t exist. In an ideal world, there’s no such thing as “coming out”. But we don’t live in an ideal world.
One of my favourite musical artists, P!nk (aka Alecia Moore), once gave a speech at a Human Rights Campaign event in 2010. She opened her speech by saying, “Hi, I’m Alecia. I’m a Virgo. I’m 31. I’m gay.” The politely listening crowd erupted at the final point, and after allowing their cheers Moore continued, “Actually, I’m not, but that doesn’t actually matter. My point is, I would like in the world the same boring response that I get from, ‘Hi, I’m a Virgo.’”
I’ve always loved that speech, in part because she delivers it well and in large part because I wholly agree. In an ideal world, no one would care if someone was gay, or bi, or trans, or whatever other gender or sexual identity they may hold.
There would be no reason to come out, the same as there’s no reason to come out as heterosexual. There would be no reason to hold Pride events, because members of the LGBTQ+ community would have already found acceptance in the world and would face no repercussions for their identities any more than if they were a Virgo, or if their favourite colour was yellow, or if they never learned to ride a bike. It’s one fact in a million about a person, and is certainly far from being the most interesting.
But we’re not there yet. I know we’re not there because I’ve witnessed friends be outcast from their church and home for their sexuality; I’ve witnessed friends stuggle with their mental health as outward discrimination is internalized; I’ve witnessed slurs casually tossed around for a laugh; and now, I’ve witnessed a family and business unsubscribe and cut ties with the paper for including Pride month coverage.
This last person wrote to us on June 2, “I am extremely disappointed with all the coverage for Pride and LGBTQ in this week’s paper! If this continues I will be cancelling our subscription. I do not need to see or read about this sort of lifestyle that our world and community is endorsing! Surely there is more newsworthy information to put in than this!”
They won’t see this letter, having unsubscribed, but for anyone else feeling similar, please know that The Haldimand Press supports our residents, regardless of their gender or sexuality or other immaterial descriptors like religion or race. As the unsubscriber noted, “our world and community is endorsing” the freedom to express our true gender and sexuality, whatever it may be.
An event drawing about 800 people, a new art exhibit at our library, and a charitable donation to install a public bench are absolutely newsworthy as far as The Press is concerned. Maybe one day these events won’t be specific to celebrating gender identities and sexualities considered outside the “norm”. It would be ideal, but we just aren’t there yet.
