Editor,
June 28 is the 46th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City in 1969 which birthed what was originally known as they Gay Liberation Movement that mostly included gay men and lesbians. That movement quickly included bisexuals and transgender people — hence the LGBT community was born.
Along with the political movement also came the yearly Pride Celebration and Pride Parade now held every year in June across the nation. Last year Pride came to Whidbey Island. Two different groups sponsored a picnic and dance in Freeland in June and a parade in Langley last August.
The founder of the parade group proclaimed last year “she is exhausted by the constant labeling of everything in society, mainly people” but then proceeded to choose a new label — a new name for our Pride movement here on Whidbey — hence Queer Pride was born.
It’s clear there is a generational shift at work. The name “gay and lesbian” is out and “queer” is in. Perhaps one day we can transcend labels like the confusing alphabet soup that makes up the acronym of our movement which currently includes LGBTQIA, with intersex and asexual being the newest additions this year. (I’m afraid next year some folks might start saying LGBTQIA – G.F., as in “Go figure”!) In any event, even for those of us of the Stonewall Generation of the 1970s not offended by the word “queer” itself, many of us can never forget our struggle just to “come out.” Publicly embracing the socially shunned label of gay or lesbian was a personal and political decision we made which put us at great risk of losing our jobs and family connections as well as put us in danger of physical violence and criminal prosecution.
I hope that as we move into the future there is room for a diversity of labels and names; that there is room for gay and lesbian and queer also.
So in closing as we observe the anniversary of our movement I want to thank all of our non-gay family members, friends, and allies who have cared for and supported us in our struggle for human and civil rights. Happy Pride, every one!
MICHAEL FERRI
Coupeville
