A New Page in Pride
Happy Pride Y’all!
WOW, what a month to celebrate. Every time I sat down to write this, more change unfolded and here we are at the end of the month.
Covid has canceled most in-person gatherings and the Black Lives Matter movement has really brought a much-needed diversity discussion to the queer community.
One word that comes to mind is ‘Receiving’.
Now is the time, especially for white people, to receive the news, receive the protests, receive our history. White people- do not try to control the narrative. Just listen. Just receive. Welcome it. Saying that, please do not sit home idly. March, call, write letters, have the discussions, but be mindful of your privilege.
We can’t forget that Pride started as a protest. The Boston Tea Party wasn’t peaceful either. Protest can bring change.
Also, the Stonewall Riots were not started by white people, the two figures at the head of the Gay Liberation Movement were Black/Latina trans women Marsha P. Johnson and Silvia Rivera. They fought back against police brutality and rattled the beehive that spurred a movement. Get to know them and their stories. Here is an informative documentary on Marsha and an interview with Rivera.
Speaking of rights- During Pride month, the Supreme Court ruled for gay and transgender rights in the workplace. But as my friend Matt Bell so brilliantly posted, “It's weird to live in a world where a court has to validate your right to exist on an equal level as other people. But okay!”
While I usually cover deep thoughts on coaching principles in this monthly post, this time it’s important for us all to educate ourselves, take action, keep talking.
Here are some links to the way you can be a part of the change:
Sign up for newsletters and follow on social
The Marsha P. Johnson Institute (MPJI) protects and defends the human rights of BLACK transgender people. We do this by organizing, advocating, creating an intentional community to heal, developing transformative leadership, and promoting our collective power.
Here is a full list of trans funds and resources.
I am well aware I may not be the right person for POC to speak to about their life experience so here is a great list of mental health and self-care support for the Black community.
Here is an episode from BET House Party x Black Lives Matter Global Network speaking to Deepak Chopra, M.D. discussing how our mind affects our health. He shares ways to calm ourselves from stress, trauma, and fears and to see past the chaos.
Finally, this discussion ‘A Conversation between Transformative Teaching Collective members' Drisana McDaniel and Nijeeah Richardson (who I had the honor of working with at We Are Family) on ‘Decentering Whiteness and practicing humility in the movement for social change’- was eye-opening to me.
One point that really gave me pause was when the discussion went to ‘What does it mean to leverage your privilege?’ Nijeeah asked: How have White people not internalized the racism that has run in their families for generations? You have to be really thoughtful and deliberate in unlearning it. This is centuries of White supremacy that has lived in your body, the same way as the trauma of slavery lives in our bodies.”
Let that sink in.
Love and Pride-
Cator
#BlackTransLivesMatter
Collage of Marsha P Johnson by Kendrick Daye
