Got Pride?  Get some!?!

Summer is here and pride is abound at least in all the ads and events and planning.  I can remember fondly the days in Washington, DC when the “A List” (they were only A Lister’s because they were the ones out and about, proud and making things happen for the rest of us) would eagerly gear up, not just for the next party that you had to be at, but because you wanted to, when it wasn’t just about the hot boys that flocked to the city to play, but a visibility inherent in the coming together, a commitment to not being in-visible anymore.  It was about reclaiming community, reestablishing presence and yeah, celebrating it all, no matter how you chose to do that. 

These days I hear everything from the young kids can’t connect to Pattie Labelle or pay tons of money to see her, to there are no good parties anymore, to “oh, that’s been done, let’s head out to Splash in Miami,” to “I’m too old for that – been there and done it,” or DC Pride was tired last year, so let’s hit Puerto Rico. And we’ve all probably said one of the phrases above at one time or another, AND MEANT IT! 

But in a time when the mere existence of our families, our communities, and let’s face it, our existence is public debate number one, and where our wish to marry or join unions with another brethren, not because it is taboo, but because it is our right; and when HIV and AIDS on the surface has become a livable and manageable disease, so much so that the numbers of brothers and sisters (which means parents, kids, blood brothers and sisters, friends, frat brothers, cousins and even uncle and aunts are all affected – Yeah folks, AMERICAN HAS AIDS!) has reach astronomical records…are you still wondering what there is to be proud of?  Are you still wondering why it matters if you stand up and be counted?  Some brothers are…

“Everyone can’t come out,” I hear brothers say.  “I could lose my job or lose my family connections.”  “What’s in it for me?’ “If being proud means telling the world, I ain’t with that,” or even brothers who really do think that down low gives them permission to be low down…

Think about it like this…even if you don’t come out and wave a rainbow colored flag, and even if you don’t announce to the media that you too are “one of those”; even if you don’t tell those friends and family (that already know anyway)….you could stand up and be counted in a pool of people who will find strength in your simple stated or understated presence.  That’s not a sell-out to being proud or being out, it’s a confirmation that you are in the fight – the fight for visibility, respect, and even acknowledgement.  There’s power in numbers, presence, financial contributions and even support – and that’s pride!

Start small but make a big impact….instead of just being just a passive reader who signs on to www.GBMnews.com  – sign up and drop some lines and express yourself, or volunteer to help others get their voice out there – there is a voice and strength and visibility – thanks, Ralph!!  Go over to www.blackprideguide.com, and check out the listing for your city or town, or someplace near.  Pick up a copy and make a commitment to attend something; anything!  And if you can’t show up or attend, send some money, or volunteer some time if the funds are low.  If the party thing is not your cup of tea, have some friends over that are.  Make a commitment to get together, or volunteer, or support a cause, throughout the year and not just during the summer months.  Hey, even making the commitment to do it once a year is a start. 

Maybe you’re into literature and the arts.  Sign up for some news links or newsletters for something you believe in – hell, you’re online all the time anyway, and volunteer, forward information, write a check or just attend an event.  Check out www.fireandink.org  if you are a writer, want to become one, or just want to support some.  Visit www.bravesoulcollective.org and read up on what positive things our community is doing.  Check out Red Bone Press at www.redbonepress.com for the latest in what brothers (and sisters) are reading and living.  Or check out Red Dirt Publishing at www.reddirt.biz or drop by a Front Porch poetry, music and performance event hosted by Tim’m West and Red Dirt if you’re in the Washington, DC area or now the Atlanta area.  Even the brand new Tugson Press at www.tugsonpress.com, is ramping up to touch our community and represent it with pride.  Support the endeavors of Us Helping Us – People Into Living www.uhupil.org or Whitman Walker, not just in stopping the spread of HIV and AIDS but in saving lives and providing medicine still out of reach for a lot of our community. They need money, but they need bodies as well!

And if the only way you connect community to your life is through hot boys and sexy play, whether it is leather, vanilla or some kind of kink in-between, keep it safe and consensual and with the flavor of love and respect that we should be all about; check out  www.safersaner.org and forward the link to your tribe.  Being prideful is also about being in the know.

So whether you are old school, down low, or just about the party, be prideful in your life and in this season, not by sitting on the sidelines and complaining about what is or what is not – get involved, from the planning committees of pride festivals and celebrations across the country, to just showing up and dropping some money or some time, or through individual initiatives like www.gbmnews.com, or even through supporting authors, writers, and causes that are putting it out there, throughout the year, that substantiate our place as powerful, wonderful and a substantial force to be reckoned with, recording our lives in living history. 

All organizations and links provided are and were endeavors started by people of our community for people of our community – now that’s P-R-I-D-E!’

Pride comes in many ways, my brothers, but it is an action word these days; if you haven’t found the pride, yet, get you some today!