A movement unwavering, a dream unrealized, but a spirit unbroken…
In the midst of Black History month what does it mean to be a black queer transfemme nonbinary icon and revolutionary, reflecting on my place in the movement. It conjures questions of where is the movement headed and where has it been? As we begin to approach the horizon of a new vision and a world unrecognizable, dripping in what feels like unfettered hatred and violence, fueled by ignorance and swaddled in white supremacy, where are we left to look for the light at the end of what feels like an unending tunnel ?
The future feels filled with anxiety and fear from the unknown like an uncontrollable wind sent to snuff out our light as we watch our community be stripped of their humanity and be ripped from our history. It feels as if the future is our past relived, returning to the roots of our movement and continuing to fight back together. We see this in school board meetings, as we fight for the life force of our future and our present, our youth. We see this in the medical field as we fight for the right of our trans community to access life saving gender affirming care in places where their existence has been criminalized. We see this in our comrades and the solidarity that we continue to build with our most marginalized communities of color as they fight for their right to a life not dripping in violence and death. In all of these battles we find the push to keep our light burning bright in the dark times of this movement, for this is not the first time our community has been under attack and been ready to fight back.
Taking inspiration from organizers and activists of the 1980’s AIDS crisis, they used to say: “We bury in the morning, we protest in the afternoon, and we dance at night.” We continue this movement, work through the pain and make space for the joy and reigniting our light. We are the fuel that helps that light continue to burn bright, when we pull from our past, empowered by the possibility of forging new beginnings in a landscape that may make us feel that the dreams of our ancestors have been dashed and deferred. The spirit of this movement comes from the hopes and passions which will remain unbroken, a spirit that can not be erased through policies, a spirit that will not be silenced through violence, a spirit that can move mountains and create new horizons for our freedom and liberation.
Our unbroken spirit is reinforced by the unending work of our ancestors and elders, like: Lady Java, Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and our very own San Diego warriors like Miss Tracie Jada O’Brien. We continue to uphold their work everyday, by daring to live in our truths and to move throughout the world in the face of fear and bigotry, unashamed and unafraid. Through actions like protests of local policy makers and officials or public comment in meetings affecting our communities and advocacy for budgetary support for our community we continue this work. It is in the work of continuing to create space for joy in a fight that seeks to steal it, by refusing to fall into the narrative that tells us we are not allowed to have joy and fun, we fight back by doing the things that bring us joy be it going to the local drag show, or getting together with chosen family, or curating and engaging in community events. We must continue this work and this commitment to fighting oppression in all its pervasiveness and choose to fight for the hopes of a new beginning and a new sunrise, for this is where we find a new dream, a new hope, a new light. In the words of Amanda Gorman “ For there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it, if only we are brave enough to be it.” So continue to see that unwavering light, and be that unbreakable spirit because together we are the movement and forever we will inspire , we remain unbreakable & unshakeable in our pride & our power.
Signed,
Amber St. James
San Diego Pride raises funds primarily through festival ticket and beverage sales, and through sponsorships, and exhibitor fees. These funds support San Diego Pride’s community philanthropy which has distributed more than $2.5 million in advancement of its mission to foster pride, equality, and respect for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities locally, nationally, and globally.
