Guide to Pride’s Piece in the LGBT+ Mosaic

I consider myself lucky to live in the time period that I live in now as an LGBT+ person. Is this time period perfect? No. Is homophobia defeated? Absolutely not. Could the future be even better than it is now? Possibly. However, I live in a time period where I do not have to suffer in silence. I live in a time period where I am not isolated, and where I have to live in fear. I do understand, however, that not all places of the world are safe for LGBT+ people. For instance, take a look at these lovely photos posted throughout the Westboro Baptist Church website:

 

Source: Westboro Baptist Church http://www.godhatesfags.com

Lovely images right? It’s a reminder that although the LGBT+ community has come so far, there is still a long way to go. I do understand my role as a person of the LGBT+ community in order to help strive towards our new goal. I must not be silent. I must not be uneducated. I must not allow myself to be isolated. I must not allow these voices of hate to make me feel ashamed. I am proud that Guide to Pride’s blog stands alongside other blogs such as LGBTQ Nation, PinkNews, and The Gaily Grind. Although Guide to Pride blogs on topics similar to these other blogs, such as about Pride and LGBT+ news, I offer my personal experiences to these topics. I also specify in celebrating the history and culture of Pride, as well as how to participate. Essentially, the more voices, the more we are heard against the voices of hate.

Reception of Trump’s Military Trans Ban

Unfortunately for the LGBT+ community, on July 26, 2017 President Trump announced plans to restore a transgender ban from serving “in any capacity” within the US military. The announcement read:

“After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump said in a series of tweets Wednesday morning. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

“Thank you,” he added.

Who on Earth are you thanking, Trump? Consider finding new “Generals and military experts” because a 2016 Rand Corp. study commissioned by the Defense Department concludes with results of the trans military community that are far from “tremendous” in medical costs.

First, the trans military community would have a small impact on medical costs and “disruption” due to the minimal presence in the approximate 1.3 million-member force.

Second, the approximate estimate for gender-change surgery would be around 25 to 130 surgeries of active members. For hormone treatments, it would be roughly 30 to 140 treatments a year. The estimated cost for both surgeries and hormone treatments ranges from $2.4 million to $8.4 million.

You want to know what is an actual “tremendous” cost? According to the American Progress Action Fund, Trump’s travels to his private resort and golf course in Mar-a-Lago have cost approximately $25 million in expenses. This is for the first 100 days of office alone.

As of now, we cannot determine what will follow this announcement. However, there is faith in humanity restored as you can view J.K. Rowling tearing Trump apart on Twitter:

J.K. Rowling has a blazing reaction after Trump bans trans people from the military

So hang in there to all of my LGBT+ guys, gals, and non-binary pals. Stay strong, and above all, have a very gay day.

The Birth of Guide to Pride

For as long as I live, I will never forget my first PRIDE parade. On June 26, 2016, I embarked to spectate the parade in the Big Apple with my best friend Stefano. For me, this was an emotional experience. I never had to “come out” just once, and when I initially did, I did not receive the reactions I had hoped for from my loved ones initially. For years, I tried to change who I was, and tried to pretend to be someone I am not. However, over a year ago on that special date, I knew exactly who I was, and what I stood for. I also was not alone, because I had my wonderful best friend by my side.

Therefore, I embarked on an adventure to experience my first PRIDE parade. This PRIDE march was particularly special. It not only commemorated the one year anniversary of the Supreme Court case that legalized same sex marriage, but also weeks earlier 49 LGBT people were murdered at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. During the parade, marchers dressed in all white like ghosts carried names and pictures of the victims. I will never forget silence fell as they passed, and reminded me of how although this community has come so far, it still has so much left to go.

I cried, I laughed, I cheered, I celebrated. This experience changed me as a person for the better. So much so, that I returned next year, and went to both the Philadelphia as well as NYC parades with a larger group of friends. Yet, for some of my friends 2017 was their first year of experiencing the parades. I realized then and there, that there was so much you needed to know in order to be prepared! For instance, NYC PRIDE parade has around 32,000 marchers, and last year an estimated 2 million spectators attended. The parade also lasts for over six hours, and streets are blocked off so that you cannot cross them for over fifteen blocks. When you search around the internet, you can find information about locations and events, but there is no survival guide to pride….

And so, is the birth of Guide to Pride. Whether you need to know ten things to expect to be prepared for your first parade experience, information on the history of the PRIDE marches, or a desire to follow up with a community after your experience… this blog is here for you! Please enjoy this site as it is being built to create a better experience, and share your questions as well as thoughts! Let’s get ready for PRIDE 2018 together!

 

(Photos taken and provided by yours truly!)