Pride

[vaneramos]

uberdaddybear's Uberfun Writing Task of the Day:

As we go into pride this year, what are you proud of? Why? and does it have anything to do with the fact that your gay?


Pride for me means standing up to those who tell us we should be ashamed of ourselves. It doesn't mean looking down on anyone or presuming my way is the best or only way; that is a different kind of pride called arrogance. Queer Pride should set an example of tolerance and goodwill toward people who think or act differently. The GLBT community has far to go in overcoming its own prejudices, but we're human after all.

I'm proud of my chosen family: my children and friends. I'm proud of being a gay father, single and polyamorous. I dislike labels, but these ones identify the way I relate to people. Without my relationships nobody can get a clear picture of who I am. If I went back to hiding or trying to change that part of myself it would be like cutting off my feet.

I'm proud of having survived rejection by most of the people I loved when I came out of the closet seven years ago. I didn't give up. I weathered years of serious depression. Sometimes the only thing that kept me going was my determination to prove that religious ostracism couldn't destroy me. Maybe that was the wrong reason to stay alive, but it worked when I needed it. My faith worked when I needed it, too. Now I follow a different spiritual path more meaningful to me, and life is worth living for its own sake. I have overcome my hostility toward people who treated me badly or ignored me when I needed friends. I'm happier than ever before.

My sexuality is connected to the way I express myself creatively. I'm proud of being a writer, poet and artist.

Life is all about learning. I'm proud that I'm willing to let the evidence change my mind about people and ideas.