We wouldn’t have Pride Month without our LGBTQIA+ elders who put their bodies on the line for their freedoms. Who organized, mobilized, litigated, and legislated for fundamental rights that were a given for the majority. To be marginalized is to fight for the most basic human rights.

At Massachusetts Pride this year, we’re celebrating 20 years of marriage equality – a legal win that was nothing short of revolutionary. Marriage equality was always the floor, not the ceiling, but it’s important to pause and take stock of our victories. To draw strength from our wins. Because as we speak, Republicans are working relentlessly to rollback these victories and deny our LGBTQIA+ siblings the essential resources they need and deserve. They want to cut federal funding for programs serving the LGBTQIA+ community. Trans youth are being targeted by an unprecedented number of laws in state legislatures. GOP strategists are trying to ban the word “gender” from appearing in any piece of legislation. Our work is far from over.

Pride has always been a protest. I want to name this because as agitators, movement builders, and people doing the work of our collective liberation, we can be so focused on the deficit that we lose sight of the dream. If we believe another world is possible, we have to name it. We have to claim it so that we can manifest it.

A world where LGBTQIA+ citizens are guaranteed equal justice under the law.
A world where our trans siblings can show up in the world as their full, authentic selves.
A world where no one has to “come out” to their parents, or have their parenthood questioned.
A world where a family is recognized as any group of people who love and support each other.
The dream is queer liberation.

That’s the true meaning of Pride.

Ayanna

P.S. Your support ensures I can keep up the fight towards queer liberation. Can you please pitch in $25 or anything you can to power our movement for equity and justice?