🌈 Happy Pride, Connection & Community Matter!

Written By Aza Rose

Good Morning,

 

If your following list and algorithm are anything like mine, you most likely saw a bunch of corporations, sports teams, banks, small businesses, and allies wishing you a happy pride yesterday. Well, today you're being told happy pride from a proud (and angry) trans woman... so happy pride.

 

I found myself at three different pride events this past weekend. On Saturday, I marched with NoCoSafeSpace and helped lead the chants for the pride march through Fort Collins. On Sunday, I was at FoCo Pride, where I helped run programming and the community stage. On Sunday night, I hosted Pink Pony Pride Afterdark at Live Beyond Limit. If you have been following me for a while or know me, you may be aware that I started an LGBTQ+ organization in Illinois before I moved to Colorado, so I am no stranger to pride events. If you know me, you probably also know that I have.... conflicting feelings about pride "celebrations." This year was the first time I found myself saying, "Happy Pride!" I said it to friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers all weekend, and the reason I found myself saying this is because this year, I noticed a difference in the stories I heard and the people I met at these events. This year, I heard more stories of loss within the community, I met people who didn't know if they'd make it to the next weekend, and I saw performances that centered on queer rage.

 

This year, more than ever, it has become apparent to me that pride is not about vendors selling swag, big corporations posting on Instagram, or banks leading the way in a parade. Pride this year- especially for my transgender brothers, sisters, and siblings- is about connection and knowing you are not alone. The common theme that kept bubbling up this weekend is that people are feeling isolated, excluded, dehumanized, and rejected... everywhere- myself included. For me, at least, I have struggled to find community even within the LGBTQ+ community, and the community I happen to be a part of (at work and in my everyday life) at times feels unsafe, even though it is filled with well-meaning allies.

 

All of this was incredibly heavy to hold this weekend, but the one thing that made it feel lighter was the connection I felt as I talked and, more importantly, listened to my queer siblings. For the first time in days, weeks, months, even years, for some people, somebody was asking them how they were and was sticking around , actually listening to their answer. For the first time in days, weeks, months, or even years, as I took the time to see the soul in front of me, I felt less alone in this world. 

The hardest thing is that this is only a weekend, and it's only "acceptable" one month a year. But what would have happened to that person who didn't know if they could survive the week if pride had waited until July? How are we, as queer and trans people, supposed to survive in this world when our local businesses, big corporations, and our government feel like they are doing the most to keep us isolated? 

 

On this pride month (and every month following for the rest of my life), I want to offer to my queer siblings if you need anything, even if it's just to talk to somebody, that my DMs and emails are always open, and you should never hesitate to reach out to me to say hey. On this pride month (and every month following), I want to challenge my allies- if you are claiming to be an ally, it's more than a noun to claim. Rather, it is a verb, an action word that empowers you to stand up for those of us who struggle to stand up for ourselves, those of us who don't have a voice at the table, and those of us who are tired of feeling so isolated. 

 

Whoever you are, and wherever you find yourself on your journey, I want to wish you a happy Pride Month, and I want you to know that you are loved.

 

 

With love and light,

 

 

Aza

 

P.s. Big huge shout out to everybody who came out to these events this past weekend and made everything possible. Thank you to NoCoSafeSpace for the march, thank you to the amazing team of FoCo Pride I got the honor to work with, and thank you to all the fabulous performers at Pride Afterdark. If you are looking to connect with me and get some pride on I have a few more events happening this month,

Aza Rose
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The Fire Within: What the Universe Keeps Reminding Me