Having Pride Is Not A Sin

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech said "Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time: the need for man to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence.  Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation.  The foundation of such a method is love." 

I have a great respect for the Gay Community, for their capacity to rise above the violence and oppression that is often directed towards them.  To me, Dr. King's words are proven every Pride March.  I see an overwhelming show of love, a rejection of revenge, aggression, and retaliation.  

 Photo by Alex Stone, All Rights Reserved. 

I (like many) fell in love with Jamie Clayton's character Nomi Marks with her monologue in Sense8:

"For a long time I was afraid to be who I am because I was taught by my parents there's something wrong with someone like me.  Something offensive.  Something you would avoid, maybe even something that you would never love.  My mom, she's a fan of Saint Thomas of Aquinas. She calls pride a sin. Saint Thomas saw pride as the queen of the seven deadlies.  She saw it as the ultimate gateway sin that would turn you quickly into a sinaholic.  But hating isn't a sin on that list.  Neither is shame.  I was afraid of this parade because I wanted so badly to be a part of it.  So today I'm marching for that part of me that was much too afraid to march.  And for all the people who can't march.  The people living lives like I did.  Today, I march to remember that I'm not just a me.  I'm also a we.  We march with pride."

Photo by Alex Stone, All Rights Reserved.

I support Pride for many reasons that those who don't place themselves in the LGBT category do. We support our friends and family who do fall into the categories, we believe that equal rights do not extend beyond how you identify or who you love, and we want to be part of the overwhelming act of love and pride that the march represents.  One the biggest reasons for me is that I want those who are afraid to march to see that there are people like me that look up to them, not down on them.  To those plagued with loneliness because of fear, those who battle with their gender or sexuality because friends, family, or their religion that say it's a sin or wrong and to those that battle with the fall outs and cruelness that follow coming out: Many people around you may not be supportive, but all around the world there are people that don't even know you that love and support you.

Photo by Alex Stone, All Rights Reserved.

October 11th was National Coming Out day and I feel immense pride in those that had the strength to come out.  I have seen the judgement and cruelty that is directed by people following that decision. I know I may be a stranger, and I know the encouraging words of a stranger cannot combat the discouraging words of a loved one but there are many strangers like me that admire you and I hope that it counts for something.