Users browsing this thread:

**Seraph** · 06-24-2021, 02:34 AM

TSPride 2021

Pride month. It means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To many it is a celebration, a riotous party of colour and sound. To others it is an aggravation, either because it represents something with which they find offence, or because its very visibility is an indirect cause of strife for how they go about living their own queer lives, which are, after all, not all that different to the straight lives all around them.

But Pride is ultimately about visibility, about highlighting LGBTQ+ lives, their causes, hopes and struggles in a world that isn’t often friendly or kind to those who are different. Sometimes visibility can be counterproductive. Sometimes showing off the culture that has developed so richly as a result of repression can result in the continuing of unhelpful stereotypes and the struggles that are borne out of those for many day-to-day, but it’s still important that LGBTQ+ people aren’t just shoved back into the closet, that those who would have us swept quietly under the rug, or neutralised entirely, don’t get to have their way.

You can’t just deny the existence and rights of a natural subset of humanity and Pride is a big, bright reminder of that. It’s not subtle and sometimes it gets a bit wild, but when you’ve lived under pressure of various kinds, it’s hardly surprising when something bubbles, excitedly out of the pot.

Which brings us to TSPride. The South Pacific has long thought of itself as the party region and, as a region with a large number of LGBTQ+ members, many in positions of importance historically or at the present, not to mention the many allies to the cause who reside and serve here, it’s long past time that we put the two together and had a party to celebrate our own queer culture.

This is my first Pride as an out member of our LGBTQ+ community and it is my genuine pleasure to open this festival and share its delights with you all. Because Pride is ultimately about human diversity and ALL are welcome here, queer or not.

Have fun, friends!

·

—

—

·
·

Founder of the Church of the South Pacific [Forum Thread] [Discord], a safe place to discuss spirituality for people of all faiths and none (currently looking for those interested in prayer and/or "home" groups);
And The Silicon Pens [Discord], a writer's group for the South Pacific and beyond!

Yahweo usenneo ir varleo, ihraneo jurlaweo hraseu seu, ir jiweveo arladi.

Salma 145:8

translate