Is PRIDE more than just a month?

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Unless you've been living under a rock you know that pride month is celebrated the entire month of June but then some cities and countries will extend it before and/or after the month. The pride of individuals doesn't begin and finish when the month of June falls upon us. But it is the time when many members of the LGBTQIA+ community feel most comfortable expressing their identities. I could have you sit here and have you read all about the history of pride month but that's not what this blog is about.

Don't get me wrong, as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I am a big advocate; however, my overall focus of the blog is to share my struggles and triumphs as an educator who also happens to be gay.

It's been over seven months since my last post and it's mainly because I felt that I needed to find my footings again. I was being questioned of the sincerity and truthfulness of what I was saying which got brought to the attention of all sorts of higher-ups at the district level questioning me and my words so I decided to take a break. That break is something I wish I hadn't had done. I wish that because an advocate doesn't stop their work. Unfortunately, I did because I was on a very thin rope (there was no knowing what the outcome would be had there been another meeting with district-level employees about my blog). This was an unfortunate decision but there was light at the other end; A Diversity Club that I co-created.

This Diversity Club was quite premature so topics up for discussion were approached with much
caution. It wasn't until the voices of the students/club members began to take control that I felt, "This could really make a difference with time." By the time this feeling had risen, I had already decided that it was my time to leave this particular district and move on.

Fast forward to Summer 2019 and I have taken a new job with a different district and within all the excitement of starting new, I sat with my fiance discussing my new job and being in a more conservative area. He suggested that I hold back and not go into my new school and meeting new staff guns fully loaded with rainbow ribbons spewing from them. Here's the struggle with being a teacher in a new place who is also gay....YOU HAVE TO COME OUT ALL OVER AGAIN!

The school year hasn't even started yet and I have to battle myself and wanting to be a true advocate along with being true to myself while listening to my beloved partner (even if he may be right) about containing my PRIDE and who I am.

IS IT REALLY FAIR THAT I'M GIVEN A MONTH TO CELEBRATE MYSELF BUT AFTER THAT, I HAVE TO ONCE AGAIN BE CAUTIOUS?

Comments

  1. AnonymousAugust 1, 2019 at 2:18 PM

    When I think about all you have had to process and explore in the last 12 months, it makes my head spin. You have had joyous moments and pain filled moments that spanned your personal and professional lives. You are still standing. You are still celebrating love with a wedding to plan. You are changing your home situation and you work situation. Stand tall, my friend. Be gentle with yourself.
    And no, it's not fair. So find ways to celebrate with people who love you until it is safe to be out there advocating with a mighty roar. Give it time.

    ReplyDelete

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