PRIDE

6/29

PRIDE

PRIDE hat

new flag

On the last Wednesday of June, one last  chance to share something of PRIDE with our Wednesday morning Underground group. Earlier in the month, I had gone to the Brooklyn Cyclones Pride event. They had produced a fine jersey using the latest Pride colors in what’s become  known as the tequila sunrise template originally designed by the Houston Astros. The accompanying hat has the almost newest versions of the Pride flag, lacking only the intersex circle. The newest flag for LGBTQIA+ (my friend Luciano says, Look, I just say queer..). has added baby blue and pink for trans people and black and brown for queer people of color. 

We live in strange times. On the one hand, what was remarkable about the Cyclones Pride Night was its very unremarkableness, it’s normalness. Gay community leaders involved in ceremonial first pitches and the between  innings promotions and games, No different than Italian night or Irish night or Jewish Heritage night.  Parents and kids happy to get the Pride jersey and hat. Corporate sponsors. Just another part of the community.  

On the other hand, the Supreme Court and its originalists have cancelled out a half century of women’s rights over their own bodies and access to abortion. And formerly silent Clarence Thomas seems ready to challenge marriage equality, contraception and sodomy laws along with his wife and partner  "Ginny" who promotes conspiracy theories and promotes coups. So strange to have come so far and be so vulnerable at the same time. Perilous times indeed.

So hats off to the queer community, hats on for PRIDE. Stand strong,