16 Comments
User's avatar
Meg Macy's avatar

LGBTQA+ ally here -- I have always loved the rainbow stuff since I was a kid, unaware of Pride using it. Perhaps as a child of the 60s, when tie-dye, peace symbols, and colorful rainbows were all the rage, I embraced it. Never stopped. And with the growing acceptance, marriage equality, etc. of the early 2000s, I knew the rainbow was always a good thing. I'm enraged at the right wing's cruel actions to snatch away the progress, and now believe Pride is year round!! We have to keep fighting not only Fascism, but all the anti-trans and anti-LGBTQA+. Disheartening, but the tide MUST turn at some point.

Expand full comment
Aidan Wharton's avatar

Yes! I have always loved rainbows too, but from a color order mentality. As a kid I would always organize my pens or crayons by color, I had to! Now, as an adult, I still love rainbows, they just mean so much more now. I'm so glad you're here! Thank you, truly!

Expand full comment
Randy PB's avatar

As a Dyke Elder, I say your focus on the young’uns is critical. Pride isn’t just about partying! It’s also an angry middle finger to those that deny us. Fifty years of progress could be gone unless young queers get out in the streets with us to demand the rights we have fought so hard for. Bravo! Keep writing! Wish I had $6 to give you but Wife & I are saving to GTFOH.

Expand full comment
Aidan Wharton's avatar

Amen to this Randy! Keeping up the fight is critical as the mantle of progress passes from one generation to the next! I'm committing to continuing to fight and wish you the best in saving up to GTFOH! <3

Expand full comment
Bananies's avatar

I marched in the 1975 NY Pride March. I had just graduated from college and some of us from my campus agreed to meet in NY to march. I had been a pretty visible "out" bisexual during my last 2 years on campus. Then I chose a career that drove me right back into the closet. I retired in 2013. When I moved to a new city a couple of years ago, I decided no more closets for me. I have t-shirts and buttons that announce my pride and I wear them a lot when I'm out and about. I'm too old and decrepit to march these days but I did watch the NY Pride Parade on TV. It was the 50th anniversary of when I did march. Loved it!

Expand full comment
Aidan Wharton's avatar

Thank you so much for sharing this! Like I wrote above, all types of visibility are so important and I'm so happy that you wear your buttons and shirts to show off your pride! <3

Expand full comment
Jerry Portwood's avatar

Qmmunity—love it!

Expand full comment
Casey Garvin's avatar

You inspire me every day to live more authentically and stand up for those who are being put down ❤️

Expand full comment
Aidan Wharton's avatar

I love you so much babe <3

Expand full comment
Jeffy: AfterCare Bear 🏳️‍🌈 🦄's avatar

I haven’t read the whole piece yet. However, the “Eat pussy, it’s organic” slogan I believed in wholeheartedly when I was professing to be straight. Seems like a universal truth for many. 😂

I absolutely love these pieces by the way. As a new Enby, I get so much out of them.

Expand full comment
Aidan Wharton's avatar

Aww, thank you so much Jeffy! I'm so glad you're here!

Expand full comment
Jeffy: AfterCare Bear 🏳️‍🌈 🦄's avatar

Very happy to be here and be here, if you know what I mean. I do love the pieces you write.

Expand full comment
Bill McCauley's avatar

For me, YOU are my best example of Youthful Pride!! You absolutely nail the importance and the joy of Pride. ❤️

Expand full comment
Aidan Wharton's avatar

Awww, thank you so much Bill! Hope you're doing well!

Expand full comment
Marena's avatar

Oh I loved this so much. I missed the pride fest this year but this reminded me that I must go next year. A beautiful piece. Thanks for caring about the young ones and for the work you’re doing ❤️

Expand full comment
Lady Libertea's avatar

I think both your visibility and your community points are vital and connected with me most deeply. These are ideas that have been on my own mind recently as I put the finishing touches on the final op ed for the #PrideonthePage series. As we leave this season of Pride and continue into the year we must carry that spirit forward. The crisis of AIDS has passed and the crisis of ICE is here, yet we must remember that oldest of Pride's lessons: Silence=Death

Expand full comment