Thoughts on Pride Month, Being a Proud Mom & Representing in Storytelling
When I looked up “pride” in the dictionary (OK, it was online), Oxford informed me the
definition was, “a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s achievements, the
achievements of those whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are
widely admired.” Today when the term “pride” is used, it immediately congers associations
with how far the LGTBQ+ community has come in the last 55 years. Here’s a super brief history
lesson why:
Prior to the 1970s it wasn’t unusual for homosexuality to be equated with mental illness (Does
that sound familiar, my fellow friends with epilepsy?). The 1950s and 60s were particularly
repressive legally and socially for LGBT people. A movement began in 1965 called “Annual
Reminders” that attempted to inform and remind Americans that LGBT people did not receive
basic civil rights protections. The Annual Reminders took place each July 4 at Independence Hall
in Philadelphia. Additionally, Inspired by the “Black is Beautiful” movement of the 1960’s, Frank
Kameny originated the slogan, “Gay is Good” to counter social stigma and personal feelings of
shame and guilt.
Then, on the morning of Saturday, June 28, 1969, came a pivotal event: The coming together of
various lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons to riot in protest after the brutal police
raid of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, NY. This is essentially the “Origin
Story” of today’s Pride Parade, the first of which was officially held in New York City on June 28,
1970, to mark the anniversary of the riots. At the time of Stonewall, approximately 50 gay
organizations existed in the U.S. Just one year later that number increased to more than 1,500,
and by 1972, it had surpassed 2,500.
The term “Pride” came into use when more the radical leaders of the LGBT movement of the
60’s and 70’s were replaced by more conservative leaders looking to appeal to a broader
community – gay and straight. Terms like “Liberation” and “Freedom” were replaced with the
descriptor, “Pride.” Three presidents – Clinton in 1999 and 2000, Obama in 2009 – 2016, and
Biden in 2021 – officially declared June as Pride Month. Interestingly, Trump acknowledged
June 2019 as Pride Month in a Tweet which was later released as an official statement.
One last tidbit that you may be wondering about before I bring this theme a little closer to
home – the rainbow flag. Artist, designer, Vietnam vet, and then drag performer, Gilbert Baker,
was asked to create a flag for the 1978 San Francisco Pride Parade by politician Harvey Milk.
Just two years post the nation’s bicentennial, Baker was driven to design a flag with lasting and
unifying appeal yet, at the same time, one celebrating its constituents differences. He believed
the rainbow – a beautiful phenomenon made up of different colors – did the trick. It stuck.
My Proud Moments
It was summer break, and my twins were home from college. One of my them had asked to
speak with me and my husband about something “very important” earlier that day, and the
three of us finally had a few minutes alone together. She looked very serious.
“Mom, Dad,” she began. “I need to tell you something, and you have to promise not to freak
out.” Her eyes darted from me to him and back to me.
“I’m gay.”
It was all I could do to keep from falling on the ground and bust out laughing.
“Sweetie, we’ve known you were gay since you were 14. Granted, it threw us a little when you
took a boy to the prom, but we figured you had your reasons,” I told her.
She looked at me, puzzled.
“Come give us a hug,” I smiled at her. And six arms intertwined.
Time passed. There was college graduation, skiing racing, volleyball coaching, one initial (I think)
sweet girlfriend, a couple of crappy ones, jobs away from home, a move back to Denver, more
jobs, and … ta da … a wonderful woman with whom my wonderful daughter celebrated her
nuptials this past February! Sheesh, they now even own their first house together! I couldn’t be
prouder.
And Me?
Let’s go back to the first paragraph of this blog when I gave you the definition of “pride” as “a
feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s achievements.” That’s never been
easy for me; to feel good about my own accomplishments. I suppose I’ve always been an
overachiever and an “underbeliever.”
But Epilectra is different. I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished with my just released
graphic novel about a team of superheroes with different disabilities they transform into
superabilities to make the world a better place. And it’s not just that I’ve written a book and
managed to get it published. What makes me most proud is that I never forgot who it is about
and for along the way (and it’s been a long, long way!). ABOUT? and FOR? – the answer to both
of these questions is YOU! Epilectra is about YOU. Sure, it’s about superheroes, but my
superheroes represent YOU (but you wouldn’t want to put on the spandex, right?). What I
mean is, Epilectra and her team of superheroes are very human, with fears and faults, but
they’re always willing to step up to the next challenge. When you live life with a disability, every
day brings different challenges, and as one of my first neurologists once said to me, “It takes a
superhero to manage a disability and a life.”
I’ve also made an effort to “represent” in Epilectra. Between Books 1 and 2, you meet
characters ranging in age from 8 to 60, are White, Latino, Black, Chinese, and alien (the ET
kind), arachnid, and reptilian gargantuan, are straight and gay, spend their days as teachers,
engineers, students, writers, doctors, homemakers, truck drivers, and chemists, and speak
English, Spanish, and/or Chinese.
“Your Difference Is Your Strength”
That’s Team SEEZ’s, the Epilectra superhero team’s, motto. I think it’s a sentiment worthy of
adoption beyond the pages of my graphic novel. After all, If we accept what’s different in others
– and in ourselves – as positive, only positive will grow from that. So, this Pride Month be an
Ally to your gay friends, reach out to an acquaintance who’s a bit different than you, and think
about adding diversity into your own life by trying something new. You can be proud of yourself
for trying, and you may surprise yourself by how much you enjoy the results.