It is one of the most diverse communities in the nation. Black, Latino/a, Pan-Asian, Native American, indigenous peoples, white, multi-ethnic, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender-queer, transgender, male, female, cis-gender, Muslim, Catholic, Christian, Jewish, Protestant, Buddhist, Humanist, no organized religion, Democrats, Republicans, no party preference, able-bodied, disabled, scores of nationalities – immigrant and native born, low resource, high resource, middle class, working class, children, families, youth, adults, seniors and the list goes on – multiple, intersectional identities.
Certainly we struggle in the tensions, all families do. But we struggle together – toward a better, stronger, more inclusive, more just and equitable community. We don’t always do it well and we don’t always get it right, but we continue to try. We can be proud that while there are moments in time when, as a community, we collapse under the weight of our different life experiences, there is always another moment when we find a way to unite.
We have celebrated many victories over the last year – the right to marry in every state, city ordinances and state laws prohibiting harassment and discrimination, protections for transgender students and the lifting of the military ban on transgender servicemembers, to name a few.
But we have also seen the backlash, the state laws overruling local LGBT protections, the many attempts to pass so-called “religious freedom” laws, the “First Amendment Defense Act,” the continued murders of our trans and gender queer community members – especially those of color, the continuing efforts to attack and roll back every advance we’ve made. And yet, we continue forward, in community, together. We know that there are battles still ahead. We know that we cannot – and we will not – leave any of our community members behind.
We can be proud of our continued will to continue pushing forward not only after victory, but also in the face of setbacks and frustration, our commitment to lift each other up when we stumble. We celebrate together, we mourn together, we move forward together.
Then came the massacre in Orlando, a nightmare that still captures some of our deepest fears. It has destroyed families, devastated friends and has wounded the entire LGBTQ community, especially our Latino/a community. Yet, in spite of the hate, crisis and horror, we remember again that we are community and that we will stand together, never alone. Together.
We can be proud of our unceasing commitment to caring for and building our community and to working toward an equitable, compassionate justice. There is much to be proud of!
