It's Pride Month! And it Matters.

    Today is the start of Pride Month, which occurs annually in June. There are festivities, social gatherings, and fundraising events, all accumulating in a parade full of music, dancing, laughter, and, of course, a flood of rainbows and color.

    For the first time in history, at least as far as I can tell, Pride events all over the world have been cancelled, due to the pandemic. While normally a boisterous month, June will be silent, at least in this sense. No matter that we can't gather to celebrate, Pride Month is still just as important as it ever was.

    There are still a lot of skeptics, wondering why there even needs to be Pride at all. Why the parade? Why the spectacle? Does it even matter any more? In short, yes it still matters.

    In Canada, we are quite lucky to have laws and protections in place and, as a country, we are quite accepting of the LGBT* community. However, that isn't the case in most places. It is illegal to be gay in 73 countries, same-gender marriage is illegal in 70, and LGBT* couples can't adopt children in 26 countries. There are 90 countries who still advocate conversion therapy and 20 countries will not allow gender changes. These numbers change slightly depending on what articles you read, but the point remains. Those of the LGBT* community are still not regarded as people, and in some places murdered for simply holding hands with their partners or using the bathroom of their choice.

    Pride still matters.

    During this pandemic where people, especially children, might be stuck in toxic homes, it is important that we don't forget the significance of Pride Month. Those of us who have been marking this month in our calendars for years, knowing that this is the time we can show those who are struggling that they are seen and supported, will be finding new ways to celebrate without our usual events. So bear with us, and celebrate with us, and care for us, as we flood social media with posts about Pride, with pictures of rainbow flags, with coming out stories, and messages of hope.

    We aren't "rubbing it in your face".

    We aren't trying to "influence your children".

    We aren't "making spectacles of ourselves".

    We are people.

    We want to love and be loved without fear of being attacked.

    We want to pee in peace without someone asking about our genitals.

    We want to exist without people telling us that we aren't "normal".

    We are human and we just want to live our lives.

    Until such time that the LGBT* community is accepted fully and unconditionally worldwide, we will continue to celebrate Pride Month.

    Because it matters and it might even mean the difference between life and death.