Pride Statement from Shane Cherry, VP of NYC Gaymers
This statement has been difficult to write. World events are moving quickly, and while we hope the courts continue to challenge executive power,, escalations in authoritarianism in America have continued. Our most vulnerable groups have been repeatedly targeted and scapegoated by maligned actors. It's dizzying. It feels surreal to celebrate Pride in such a climate. To me, it feels like survivor's guilt. Why do we get to celebrate who we are when so many others didn't, and won't? How do you even manage to celebrate knowing that there is a real chance ICE will show up and start throwing people into vans? It's legitimately a reasonable question to ask.
We don't celebrate despite those we've lost. We celebrate for those we've lost, and for those who need to know they're not alone. My colleagues on NYC Gaymers’ Board of Directors often remind me: When your existence is criminalized, living as your authentic self is a radical act. Just getting up and showing others that they are part of a community has an impact.
“We don’t celebrate despite those we’ve lost. We celebrate for those we’ve lost, and for those who need to know they’re not alone.”
Something else with impact: the bricks thrown in self-defense by our predecessors at Stonewall. Past Pride demonstrations were a reaction to fascism. Anti-authoritarianism is the core of the queer struggle, as it is for every othered group. The rights we still hold today were won on the backs of pioneering protestors right here in our communities. And it is because they fought and because they resisted - because they marched, because they endured disease, because they did not consent to being oppressed - so much of their needless suffering was prevented for our generation. While I can't say the work is done, the gains we've made are resounding. Medical education and access, spousal rights, legal protection from discrimination, representation in government and - more - social acceptance! These accomplishments are the blueprints left by our predecessors, and a map to our future.
Make no mistake; there are misinformed actors in our government who will contort, abuse, or outright break the law. I wish I could honestly tell the TGNC members of our community that you're not in danger, but you are. It's okay if - and speaking personally, a bit preferred - you feel the need to code switch or scrub your socials, so you lie low. Your safety matters more than anything else. Our TGNC family and friends are the ones being attacked directly at the moment, but the fight has always been united. The rights of all of our community members - and plenty more people beyond - are at stake.
What we're seeing now, though - this conservative backlash - comes from a place not just of traditional hatred, but also bitter pettiness. Loathe though I am to throw shade, these politicians and pundits are reacting because they saw open service of LGBTQIA+ community members in our military as a threat against their status quo. They saw the acceptance of transgender public figures like Laverne Cox as yet another disruption, and surely, two men marrying – each other!?! If men marry men, who will provide for those unemployable women? If women marry women, who will cook and clean for those sloppy, lazy (but also the only breadwinners allowed) men? If we accept TGNC folks, what set of social norms do we even enforce on them?!
I know academically that this whole situation is frightening. But this Pride, I don't feel scared. I think about all we've accomplished from equal rights laws to U = U, from social acceptance to the impressive collective action we took as a community to curb MPV – about how far we've come. I see such fierce resistance to basic equal rights that now I realize – they're scared.
That's why, this Pride, I don't feel scared. I feel seen. They're doing everything they can to oppress us now because they know they can't hold us back.
Connect with the spirit of defiance this Pride. But please make informed decisions and safety plan while you do so. While I celebrate however you choose to combat oppression, I also value your personal safety. You are never alone in resistance. Have an exit plan. Bring a safety buddy because protest safety rules are in full effect. Now, go out there and be as loud as you want to be. Let them hear you ROAR!
Together,
Shane Cherry
he | him | his
Vice President, NYC Gaymers
shane@gaymers.nyc
