By: Nick Schonken
June 1st marks the beginning of Pride Month. An annual celebration in the United States amongst lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) individuals that honors the 1969 Stonewall Riots and strives to achieve equal rights and opportunities for all.
Pride Month is also a time of celebration; rewarding the individuality that brings LGBTQ+ people together.
Pride means different things to everyone; to Graciela Mendoza (‘21) “Pride means being who you want to be and just having fun! Throughout the year the LGBTQ+ community is always on edge. We’re so scared to be ourselves but Pride parades and pride sections and pride month and also just the thought of people coming together and not being scared is what pride means. It’s opening people up to our community. It’s allowing others to join and be allies and continue to support us even through the toughest times. It’s all of that in one and pride is just so amazing! Pride personally for me is supporting everyone even those in the closet and closest to us!”
Danica Parlardy (‘23) says that, “Pride means to me that I am not hiding. I have personally never been to a pride parade, but I imagine it’s a whole community of like-minded people coming together to tell the world for a month or even a day that we are strong despite being lynched and slurred at and spit on and that we demand respect and equality. It symbolizes power and love and perseverance. And the fight, sometimes, is the only thing that keeps people going. It gives them a purpose or a family or an outlet. It just means being who you are; with other people who are guaranteed to support them. It’s freedom.”
Kyla Seitz (‘22), a leader in Redwood High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), says that “Pride to me means being okay with yourself and your identity. For many in the LGBT+ community, it has taken a long time to learn to be okay with and love who you are. It’s also personally about continuing to be happy with me even despite the many people I’ve lost in just being who I am. It’s a way to show them that honestly, I’m better out without them and it’s their loss of a great friend or family member. The celebration in itself is also a way to reclaim the community’s suffering, we’ve spent years and years struggling to be accepted and gain rights. Also, it is a celebration and rallying of continuing that struggle, because although we have made great strides as a community, there is still so much that we don’t get in society that we deserve.”
The rights of LGBTQ+ individuals seem to always be up for grabs in the court of law and opinion. Some may argue that this makes the celebration of pride more important than ever.
Happy Pride Month Redwood.
Nikki Schonken
Nikki Schonken '23 is a two-year writer for the Redwood Gigantea, a 4-year member of the RHS band, a CSF member, and a photographer.
Contact info: njschonken@gmail.com
Tags: Danica Parlardy, Graciela Mendoza, kyla seitz, LGBTQ+, Nick Schonken, pride month, students
