In some cases, this hatred of pride seems like a need to assimilate to what society views as “normal”. “I was able to kind of find a community without openly saying ‘I was gay’ before I came out because no one is asking you, ‘What’s your sexuality?’ they’re just involving you and you don’t have to be clear, they just allow you into their space and their community,” Hirschmann said. Pride can provide a safe place for people who don’t have anywhere else to be themselves. When you’re at pride, you’re surrounded by a community of people who are just like you. We should be able to celebrate how far we’ve gone as a community while we think about where we can improve. To say pride should end all together is not effective. “More important than celebrating yourself should be supporting each other.” “The more important thing is to continue pushing for people’s rights in those countries,” they said. Tyrael Goo is a junior who puts an emphasis on the celebration of global pride. A lot of members in the community face social and systemic issues, especially outside of the United States. In a place where so many people don’t feel seen or safe, how are we supposed to say the “fight is over?” The fight for queer struggles hasn’t stoped and homphobia did not end because same-sex marriage was legalized in 2015. “One of the reasons why we have pride celebrations is because of the history of discrimination and just terrible, terrible things that have happened in the past but still happen today,” Pasquil said. It promotes advocating identity and knowing that there is a safe place. ( Charlize Gaudiello)Ĭris Pasquil is an advisor of Diversity-Equity-Inclusion (DEI), a group at Mid-Pacific dedicated to having open discussions with students and faculty about various issues involving race, gender and sexuality, socio-economic status, identity, ability, and more. Even though Pride isn’t necessarily considered a protest now, there is still work that needs to be done. In the past, Pride was considered a protest because of the inequality members of the queer community faced, which has since changed. I think that’s an important time for us to discuss what we can do, discuss important issues, connect to people in the community that may not have the same privilege that we do, and just as a community reflect on the stuff that’s happening,” Hirschmann said. “We aren’t always gathered in the way that pride brings us together. Sophomore Maile Hirschmann said Pride provides an opportunity for growth. Whilst there is some merit to this argument, we should not forget about the wide spread homophobia/transphobia that still exists, the problems inside of the community itself and the other parts of the queer community that are still fighting for their rights. Notable laws include the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the legalization of gay marriage in 2015. This is due to how rights for gay people have progressed in the United States making people think there’s no “need” for pride anymore. Lately, I’ve noticed that people believe pride should no longer be celebrated. Then there is Pride as in the parades or celebrations that take place in the queer community, typically in June but in October for Hawaii. There are two versions of “pride.” There is pride as in the feeling the queer community associates with being proud of who they are. Honolulu Pride in 2018 was an experience I won’t soon forget.
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My first Pride was stuffy, loud, bright, and sweaty but most importantly, it was a place where people could convene and celebrate the queer community. Person waves flags down the streets of Waikiki during Honolulu Pride 2018.