Under the baobab: Celebrate, reflect during Penn State pride month
Happy “Pride at Penn State Month.”
National Pride Month, which is held in June, was initially inspired by the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. It works to achieve equal justice and opportunity for LGBTQ+ Americans by helping everyone to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on society locally, nationally and internationally. Pride at Penn State month takes place in April because students are away for the summer. The university semester ends in May.
We as a people have taken great strides toward building a beloved inclusive community that embraces all brothers, sisters and non-binary gendered folks whatever their sexual orientation, preferences or identity. We have made a world where it is possible to openly be who you are and love who you want. It hasn’t always been this way.
When I was growing up in the ‘50s it was illegal to be gay. Homosexual acts were declared criminal in 49 states. LGBTQ+ folks were even arrested for wearing clothes deemed inappropriate to their birth gender. They were often harassed, assaulted and sometimes killed for nonconformance to mainstream sexual norms. Even the early civil rights movement was not free of homophobia. Bayard Rustin, one of the primary organizers of the 1963 March on Washington, was gay and not allowed to speak at the march. The Black and labor leadership felt the movement would be attacked because of Rustin’s sexual orientation and his leftist politics. Things didn’t really start turning around until the LGBTQ+ community began to actively resist. This started at the Stonewall Uprising in 1969.
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village. Such raids were standard operating procedure during those days. Police forcibly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar and brutally arrested them. Their only crime was being gay. But this time, folks fought back. It sparked a riot, which led to six days of protests. It was the genesis of the Gay Liberation Movement (GLM).
Years later the organizing activists from GLM were primarily responsible for raising the country’s consciousness during the AIDS epidemic and kept pressure on for treatments, which has saved thousands of lives. As a result of GLM and the efforts of their allies, today, we have eradicated anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and are on the path to eliminating social homophobia. There is mandated protection of same-sex marriage. Secretary Pete Buttigieg is the first openly gay member of a presidential cabinet. We have come far, but we still have far to go.
Recently Florida passed a reactionary push back “don’t say gay” law that bans public school teachers from holding classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity. It reads, “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” A dozen other states are considering similar regressive legislation.
Locally, the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity is presenting several events to celebrate Pride Month. LGBTQ+ comedian/activist Cameron Esposito gave a keynote address that emphasized the importance of intimacy only with consent and being “who you truly are” while listening to others express themselves even if you disagree with their positions. Other comedians will present a Pride Punchline comedy show at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the HUB. There will be a Lavender Graduation and a Day of Silence on Friday. Lavender Graduation is an annual celebration that recognizes Penn State’s LGBTQ+ students and acknowledges their achievements and contributions to the university. Sharon de la Cruz will perform on April 28. The month will end with a State Gayla on April 30 at 7 p.m. in Alumni Hall. Other events can be found at: bit.ly/csgd-events.