Dear Community,
As we approach this year’s National Coming Out Day celebrated on October 11 and dating back to 1988 when it was first established to commemorate the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights founded by Jean O’Leary and Robert Eichberg, it makes me think to the many trans-resistors, Transcestors, and queer elders who brought us to where we are. National Coming Out Day is celebrated as a day of visibility and a day to boldly proclaim our truths. In the midst of legislative fights to roll back the rights of our queer folks at all levels, what does a day like this inspire in me, what does this day call into action or conjure in me (no spooky pun intended as the reality of our times are spooky enough), you may ask?
It makes me reflect on the reality that it has never been easy for queer folks to claim our truths, be it on a day that feels like it calls for it or on just a random Tuesday when you just want to make it to the local store and back safely without being clocked or harassed for living your truth out loud, boldly, beautifully, and not in silence. In this grim reality it conjures a want for action and protection of our community, but it also centers me in the necessity to make sure those of us fighting the good fight and being on the front lines take care of ourselves because in the words of our beloved Transcetor-resistor ICON Miss Major (who unfortunately is currently in hospice care, so please make sure to send her tons of love, care and affirmations) “It’s not an easy thing, but you must nurture, take care of, and look out for yourself too. If you don’t take the time to heal your wounds and soothe your ills, you can not be of any benefit to anybody else”.
Reflecting on what has long been the road of our community, to march for our own. March when it’s easy, when it’s rainbows and unicorns, but also when it’s difficult like checking that transphobe at work, or standing alone on principles against systems and laws that erase your history and power. We are called to emerge from our comfort, and come out into the movement to ensure that our future can be as bright as the internal flames blazing in the powerhouse of our communities fire for change.
This is why we must not retreat into ourselves when times get tough, we must continue to be bold in our fight forward as we recommit to our future and create the futures we want to see, through spaces and people, as it is the people that will save us not the systems. This is why the curation of spaces for our community continues to be integral to the movement and even why our programming like San Diego Pride’s Youth Leadership Academy for our youth and our Pride Empowerment Academy for our transitional aged and older community are just as important now as they have ever been.
So as my reflections on National Coming out day come to a close remember that it is so much more than a day but to me is a call to action to each of us to emerge into our power boldly and loudly, as we will not broken or shaken by this world, WE ARE THE SHAKERS OF THE TABLES AND THE BREAKERS OF BARRIERS.
-Unbreakably and unshakably 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.
