The Day After That..

Hi there

It's the morning after Pride in SF and my tanned, sore body is moving slowly out of bed to the much needed coffee.. We've had a month of events and films and parties all leading up to a very busy weekend, full of marching, dancing, connecting with old friends and making new ones. But, I can't help but ask myself, what's it all about and where do we need to go from here? On the day after that, what am I proud of? And what are my wishes for my community?

A local paper says that our celebration has gone mainstream. We have corporations that are clamoring to be sponsors of one of the biggest outdoor parties in the nation. There are celebrities that are eager to ride in our parade so they can push their latest product. We have dancing and drinking and music. What we don't have is our rights.

The general public loves to be entertained by us but does not love us enough to support our rights. Mainstream America loves our parties but won't let us marry. The straight world likes to dance to our tunes but won't protect us from discrimination at the workplace or in the military. We hear the speeches of well wishes and acknowledgement of our struggles, which are much more than 41 years worth. We didn't just appear out of nowhere at the Stonewall Riots or at Compton's Cafeteria. We've been marginalized and brutalized and abused for centuries. But we don't see the votes or the legislation that backs those words up with action.

I fully believe that we should celebrate our accomplishments of the last 41 years but we need to balance that with a constant pressing, a constant lobbying, a constant demand for all of our rights. Yes, come dance to our music and laugh with us as we poke fun at society's golden idols. But on the day after that, recognize us as more than second class citizens. On the day after that, give us all that is promised to every American. Let us sit at the table instead of throwing us scraps.

Celebrate our pride with us and on the day after that, give us our rights.

thank you

Kelly Rivera Hart