There are times when it is particularly important to give our attention to LGBTQ+ Pride. Right now, with the brazen increase in anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in the news and in the culture, remembering the inherent value and the tremendous gifts LGBTQ+ people offer the world is essential. We have always been here. We have been a part of every culture and community since humans gathered around fires. And we are still here.
During the twice monthly Rainbow Elders Zoom gatherings, there has been an uptick in expressions of concern about the recent surges of hate speech and legislation aimed at restricting the rights of LGBTQ+ folx. LifePath’s Rainbow Elders program has been going strong for over 10 years now, and it is an important resource and support network for our aging population. It is particularly interesting to remember that so much has changed in the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights and conditions in just one generation. The Rainbow Elders can look back on their lives and see the expansions and contractions of cultural acceptance and repression. It is wise to honor their lived experience.
We have been a part of every culture and community since humans gathered around fires.
Franklin County Pride is this Saturday, June 10, in Greenfield. There is such a fantastic, kaleidoscopic array of people who gather and march each year. Trans folk, lesbians, queer folk, gay men, and bisexual people of all ages, races, ethnicities, and expressions come together to celebrate their authenticity, desire, and love. And in the midst of the current cultural contraction around LGBTQ+ rights and freedoms, it is even more important to celebrate and be seen. Slogans of bygone times like “We will not go back” and “Silence equals death” are as relevant now as they ever were.
My first Pride event was the March on Washington in 1993 for LGBTQ+ rights. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C. to celebrate our lives and to demand equal treatment by the government. I was 23 at the time and I was overwhelmed and inspired by the sheer number of people there. I had felt so alone for my whole life. Being a part of such a massive display of Queer people touched me deeply. I felt like I had come home to my community. I felt like I belonged—probably for the first time in my life.
The Rainbow Elders gatherings are so important because that experience of being cut off or lonely can increase as we age. The need for community and connection is just as strong, if not stronger. Older LGBTQ+ people can often feel invisible and unseen. So, I have a gentle challenge for you: When you see a Rainbow Elder at the Pride March on June 10, invite them into a conversation. Perhaps ask them, “What have you witnessed in the course of your life around LGBTQ+ rights?” Or ask, “What concerns do you have about the current political climate?” In cultures before our time, the wisdom of elders was deeply respected and sought after. Let’s revive that wise tradition! Perhaps they can offer some insight about how to navigate these challenging times. Perhaps they can offer hope, or strategies, or perspective.
