from Marsha P. Johnson

Kind and important words from Marsha P. Johnson: "No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us."

YOUR Pride

I have quoted a lot of people this month.  So many have encouraged and helped build a better world.  A kinder world.  What though are YOUR thoughts during this LGBT Pride Month?  Are you encouraged?  Are we going in the right direction.  Please share what you think.  Thanks!

Lance Bass on homophobia

During this Pride Month, I thought I'd share these words from entertainer Lance Bass:  "When I see ignorant people talk about LGBT people it drives me crazy because I know everything they're saying is brainwashed garbage. At the end of the day, I feel sorry for those people. Somebody taught them to think that way, and consequently they're missing out on so much good in life." 

our superpowers

"I see each and every one of you. The things that make us different, those are our superpowers — every day when you walk out the door and put on your imaginary cape and go out there and conquer the world because the world would not be as beautiful as it is if we weren’t in it." —Lena Waithe

every single American

"Every single American — gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgender — every single American deserves to be treated equally in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of our society. It’s a pretty simple proposition." -Barack Obama

define yourself

“Accept no one’s definition of your life, define yourself.” -Harvey Fierstein

human rights are for all

"We declare that human rights are for all of us, all the time: whoever we are and wherever we are from; no matter our class, our opinions, our sexual orientation." — Ban Ki-moon

fully visible

"While as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible." -Broadcaster Anderson Cooper

rainbow

The late Gilbert Baker, who created the rainbow flag said "What I liked about the rainbow is that it fits all of us. It’s all the colors. It represents all the genders. It represents all the races. It’s the rainbow of humanity."

profound words

Angela Davis declared "I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change.  I am changing the things I cannot accept."

from Harvey Milk

The late San Francisco Supervisor said so many encouraging things I could quote him all month long. One very important thing he said was "We will not win our rights by staying quietly in our closets."

good advice

"Remember what things make you special and embrace those because there are so many things that aren’t on the outside that are so important and people find so beautiful."—Miley Cyrus

From Olympian Greg Louganis

"I am a firm believer that you don’t achieve greatness on your own. There is always someone there to lend a hand."—Greg Louganis

community

"Family belongs to community, and community takes its cues from family. We need to go back to real community engagement that sees us as people.  We need to take back our lives by engaging our families and educating our communities." —Beverley Ditsie

From Apple's Tim Cook

"It’s been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry.  It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple." —Tim Cook

everyone

Being kind has nothing to do with sexual orientation or gender identity.  We should be kind to everyone!

dreams do come true

"The world has caught up with me and I’m a living witness that dreams do come true, even if they aren’t the ones you start out with." —Billy Porter

someday

Someday we won't have to "come out of the closet."  We'll just say we are in love and that will be all that matters.  Someday.  Happy Pride everyone!

encouraging words

Encouraging words from Edith Windsor: "The next generation is so far advanced over us .  .  . I love that a lot of younger people now come out that would never have come out in the old days.  Of course, they are born into a community already.  They just have to discover it, whereas we were still building it."

Words From Tammy Baldwin

"There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it’s now okay to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly until it’s simply the way things are." —Tammy Baldwin

True Colors

"I see your true colors shining through 
I see your true colors and that’s why I love you 
So, don’t be afraid to let them show 
Your true colors 
True colors are beautiful 
Like a rainbow."

            — Cyndi Lauper

a tremendous thing

In E.B. White's classic "Charlotte's Web," there is a wonderful passage that means a lot to me: 

  "Why did you do all this for me?' he asked. 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.' 

  'You have been my friend,' replied Charlotte. 'That in itself is a tremendous thing."

changing hearts and minds

"To realize a world of equality and dignity for all, we will have to change laws and policies; we will also have to change hearts and minds." -Rick Parnell

It takes no money to respect the individual

"It takes no compromise to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression." -San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk 

courage quote

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." — E.E. Cummings

Taylor said

Singer Taylor said it so well last week. “We can’t talk about Pride Month without talking about pain," she said. "There have been so many harmful pieces of legislation that have put people in the LGBTQ and Queer community at risk.”

words from Barack Obama

Former President Barack Obama told us "Each of us deserves the freedom to pursue our own version of happiness. No one deserves to be bullied."

live authentically

Don't ever tell someone that they can't be exactly who they are.  Gender identity and sexual orientation are personal.  WE are in control, not others who might hate us.  Be a friend.  Be someone that others can count on.  We all deserve to live authentically.

more important that ever

Every morning for the past several years, I sit down and write something here about kindness.  Most of my posts are fairly general and could apply to any day of the year.  This month I decided to focus on my LGBTQ+ community.  We deserve kindness and respect - everyone does.  Right now, with so much hate in the world, it is more important that ever.  Show some extra love and kindness this month to everyone who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

love is love is love

Lin-Manuel Miranda's words from his Tony Award acceptance speech seven years ago still bring tears to my eyes, and on the first day of Pride month it seems so appropriate to remember them.
              "And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love, 

                   cannot be killed or swept aside.
              I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story.
              Now fill the world with music, love, and pride."