PRIDE has many meanings from one of the seven deadly sins to a healthy self esteem, to conceit - then there are the nouns and verbs surrounding PRIDE for the LGBTQIA+ Community. Then are the many trappings that surround PRIDE, the Rainbow flag, to annual celebrations around the world, and not so much in some places. The list is endless as are the events - both positive and negative. So, for me - What does PRIDE mean to me? I'm personally reminded that the first PRIDE was really a Riot...So, at which I'm reminded life largely resembles a Riot, in so many ways - a Struggle!
However - I think as for us all, being me, a person, is so much more than being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community - after much thought through my years, I'm a gay man, but I'm so much more - that's only one facet - I'm a dad, I've been a husband twice before and now a third time. I have an two academic degrees, have owned a business, enjoy several interests from music to gardening and reading and movies, and I'm a motor head - I adore automobiles, classic ones especially. I'll talk your head off about cars! Beware!
Engagingly, PRIDE for me continues to be about respect - respect for myself, and respect for others - near, and far - caring about the other person... I have often thought when others have hurled comments towards me in a negative manner - "Where did love become lost in their lives?" I tend to, work towards asking - where did the care and love for others go? What happened to them in their lives? Who didn't show them grace or generosity of love. How come? Where was the breakdown? I being a person, a human have also had paucity of thought and deed, mostly lack of action. We, have the ability to love one another, as a believer of the Holy Gospels and Jesus Christ - we are called to a love with blinders on - love as we are loved - care for others as we are cared for - this for me is the Crux of where PRIDE defines and what PRIDE means to me, for me - to being a gay man, it's not the only story - it's a part of the story - but wait there's more....