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The UK human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has been a great inspiration, he has spent years fighting homophobia in all areas of UK society for years now, sometimes even at the risk of his own safety and wellbeing. Who or what inspires you? People who stand up to homophobia and transphobia in all its forms, no matter their own sexuality or gender orientation. I hadn't come out to a single person back then and had never been to a pride parade, and to see all the sights, sounds, and colors on display was a real eye-opener for me into the LGBTQIA community-it was so uplifting to see people being themselves and having a great time! When do you feel like your most authentic self? When I am with friends listening to good music and having good times.Īny personal stories or anecdotes you'd like to share about your experience, the LGBTQIA community, allyship, or otherwise? I attended Pride in Cologne, Germany ten years ago when I was living there. I am very lucky to work at a company with wonderful people where I felt more than comfortable coming out, however, we unfortunately still live in a world where people are treated badly for no other reason than the circumstance of their birth.
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What does Pride mean to you? Pride simply means being able to be yourself and being accepted and loved for the person you are. To celebrate and honor Pride Month, we asked CJ employees (oh, and the CEO!) who identify with the LGBTQIA+ community to share what Pride means to them, their experiences, inspiration, and when they feel like their most authentic selves.ĭavid Bishai, Client Development Manager, London, UK Fast forward 52 years to a future that's made so many strides towards equality, yet also looks strikingly similar. Their activism is responsible for LGBTQIA+ rights as we know them today, though trans individuals, especially BIPOC, still remain the most vulnerable.Ī year later, on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, thousands of people marched in the streets of New York City from Stonewall Inn to Central Park-America's first Pride Parade. They became key figures in the events that followed the revolutionary riots at Stonewall, setting a new tone for the gay rights movement and fighting for trans inclusion within it. Fischburg hails from Norwich, CT and says she has noticed a decline in baton twirling, and could not remember seeing it in the Block Island parade.It's impossible to talk about Stonewall and Pride without mentioning Johnson and Rivera. Queer Block Island has shirts and stickers available at Persephone’s, Diamond Blue, and Calaveras, and is planning another pride event in the fall.įormer Majorette and summer resident Kim Fischburg delighted the crowd with her expert baton twirling. Laurel Nelson added that Queer Block Island seeks to give young people in the community the opportunity to express themselves. Several local students and teens were participating on the float, and Morin said they hoped to grow and expand in the future with more events. Austin Morin spoke to The Times about the goals of the organization to create safe spaces for teens and young adults to be themselves. "The Block Island Parade had its first gay pride float this year, sponsored by Queer Block Island. From the Block Island Times Stephen Hester Thu, - 3:30pm