MeL’s Point: Feeling At Home

... I've never been to pride.
Maybe I should this year.
-ponders-

For the first time ever Hanover (state capitol of Lower Saxony, Germany) will have its CSD this year. Maybe I should go and make it my first pride... *ponders, too*

Thanks Mel for writing about pride celebrations. I have never been to a pride parade EVER.

I am just "itching" to come out and actually get diversified (whatever that means ;)) I actually want to move down south and pray for myself, to actually be brave enough to go to one (a parade). Or attend any LBGT event that isn't "chocked full of 'aggressive' lesbians" or immature ones.

My mom keeps guilting me into staying up here by saying to me "What could be more important then family?" I really want to reply "myself" but am worried they may take my response as being selfish. I mean, my family could not be more supportive of me being a lesbian, so I am lucky that way. It's other stuff that I have going on, that makes them anxious.

Over the past two years I have met some of the best people in the world (in L.A.) which I have been proud enough to call my friends. I felt like I could really be myself around these women and I could hang out with a few of them forever. But of course, after the week long trip they all had to go back to their respective homes, jobs and lives.

How do you be yourself "grow" or "find yourself" without hurting others (like your family)?

From my perspective, I'd say that attending prides is a part of growing into one's one in the LGBTQ community.
What I observe, and can also confirm from my own biography, is that pride parade attendance is a very important thing when people are newly out.
What I also observe is that people who are more settled within the community already and do not work in actively in any LGBTQ organization, tend to leave the front rows of pride marching to the next generation of newly outs.

For the first few years as an out lesbian, I marched in the Berlin Pride, yes, Ma'am, and it was one of the most important things of the year, traveling there with friends and participating. The sensation that you mentioned, MeL, the one of feeling connected and, for once, NOT being the minority is potent and can be life-changing for people still grappling with an LGBTQ identity. I'd wish everyone to be able to share that sensation at least once in their life. It's marvelous.

During recent years, though, I've changed to ambling through the street fairs, attending related Pride events (seminars, readings, screenings, parties) instead of marching - last year, I discussed this change with an LGBTQ volunteer worker, who himself has crossed the 40 line. "At some point, you simply get tired of marching and smiling," he said. "It's good, it's important, but at some point, you simply want to live your life in peace without having to march for it."

...and the costumes begin to be too skimpy for your aging body, your first thought at seeing the shoes is not "Cool!" any longer, but "ouch!" and the music suddenly seems too loud... but then, there's always the street fairs, and, thankfully, there'll always be a younger generation of newly out LGBTQ people who will walk in the front rows and carry the banners.

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Blogging against windmills:

1 Spaniard. 1 German. 2 pairs of glasses. 3 languages. ...and trying to get married.