As June ends, the month of Pride comes to a close as well. This is the first year in eight years that Pride was not acknowledged by the White House, but this did not stop the celebrations from happening all over the globe.
Senator Chuck Schumer marched in solidarity with the LGBTQ community through the streets of New York City this past Sunday, June 26. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau paraded through Toronto during the Canadian Pride celebration on the same day. Similar celebrations happened across the globe in London, Sydney, Berlin, and many others.
Of course, Pride’s main focus is on LGBTQ issues, but some celebrations also expanded into other issues that are prevalent to the community. This year, there was a focus on the Trump administration, the health care bill, gun violence, and Black Lives Matter.
It opens up with Evan Rachel Wood, an openly bisexual actress, receiving the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award. During her speech she said “we’ve been taught that silence would save us – but it won’t. I can’t live my life straight because you’re straight – I can’t.”
The video then shows the Vine, Twitter and YouTube famous Jay Versace saying that “I just gotta live my life for me and do it for me. Because this is my life.”
Another speaker adds, “I was told to wipe off my makeup and be a boy. What they should’ve told me was to be myself.”
“If other people are uncomfortable, that is not your problem,” another voice adds. “That is their problem.” Others share similar sentiment throughout the video – a testament to the diversity of the LGBT community.
Tyler Oakley, a well-known YouTube and podcast personality says that “LGBTQ+ people are strong and resilient. We’re not gonna go away.”
RuPaul – the star of the reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race – chimes in: “I live pride every single day.”
This video comes almost exactly a year following the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. This reminds us that while Pride is a celebration, it’s a reaction to the years of oppression that this community has faced, and will continue to face.
Senator Chuck Schumer marched in solidarity with the LGBTQ community through the streets of New York City this past Sunday, June 26. Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau paraded through Toronto during the Canadian Pride celebration on the same day. Similar celebrations happened across the globe in London, Sydney, Berlin, and many others.
Of course, Pride’s main focus is on LGBTQ issues, but some celebrations also expanded into other issues that are prevalent to the community. This year, there was a focus on the Trump administration, the health care bill, gun violence, and Black Lives Matter.
‘Celebrate Brave Voices This Pride’
YouTube, marking a five-year old tradition, released their annual video titled #ProudToBe. In this year’s video, the topic at hand is nonconformity to typical gender norms and to “celebrate brave voices this pride.”It opens up with Evan Rachel Wood, an openly bisexual actress, receiving the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award. During her speech she said “we’ve been taught that silence would save us – but it won’t. I can’t live my life straight because you’re straight – I can’t.”
The video then shows the Vine, Twitter and YouTube famous Jay Versace saying that “I just gotta live my life for me and do it for me. Because this is my life.”
Another speaker adds, “I was told to wipe off my makeup and be a boy. What they should’ve told me was to be myself.”
“If other people are uncomfortable, that is not your problem,” another voice adds. “That is their problem.” Others share similar sentiment throughout the video – a testament to the diversity of the LGBT community.
Tyler Oakley, a well-known YouTube and podcast personality says that “LGBTQ+ people are strong and resilient. We’re not gonna go away.”
RuPaul – the star of the reality show RuPaul’s Drag Race – chimes in: “I live pride every single day.”
Call for Acceptance Results in Hate
While the video’s main contention is acceptance of everyone regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, it has amassed so many negative comments that YouTube has been forced to temporarily disable the comments section. Many of the comments violated their terms and services as they were categorized as “hate speech.” While the yearly videos usually spark controversy in the comment section, this year’s video was the YouTube channel’s most disliked video to date.This video comes almost exactly a year following the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. This reminds us that while Pride is a celebration, it’s a reaction to the years of oppression that this community has faced, and will continue to face.