Entering NYC Pride Weekend #FeelingFriday
We are entering New York City Pride weekend right now, and I am usually filled with such joy and excitement for the festivities to come. It’s come to be such a celebration of who we are and what we’ve fought for, but it doesn’t feel that way this year.
If I’m going to be honest, I feel more than a little sad. I don’t feel like going to parties and brunches and dance clubs, I don’t know what I feel like. Maybe that’s because I feel like we’ve gone backwards.
Ten years ago, the Supreme Court passed Marriage Equality this weekend and soon thereafter my husband and I got married in NYC Central Park with our two adult children as our witnesses. We were all full of joy and yes pride because we all felt like we had made it. Made it through years of growing up in a household with two gay dads facing what at times was unbearable scrutiny and prejudice. But there we were being legitimized. Not sure why we needed it, but it felt good.
Also ten years ago, I wrote my book “Out and About Dad,” about those years of parenting. At the time, I really questioned my own credibility in writing the book and if it would matter since we were making so much progress. Soon after its release, I was flooded with positivity from readers and one even told me that the book “saved my life.” That is all I needed to hear.
To think now, ten years later, laws to protect us are more important than ever and my book may just be more important than ever too. We do have to band together as a community to fight for our rights and voice our concerns. And we do have to share our stories so that we can be heard and understood and perhaps most importantly be seen. Everyone should share their story because it helps.
And I mean everyone, no matter who you are and what makes who you are. We are all uniquely ourselves and that should make us each proud. And proud of each other. True feelings.
So while I feel sad and even a bit isolated in the moment, I’m going to get out and participate in NYC Pride this weekend and be a voice, support others, and see and be seen.
Can I see you? What’s your experience? JIM
