Working on this piece gave me the opportunity to engage people from across our LGBTQ+ community, most I did not know - to better understand the world as seen through the eyes of an 83-year-old who came out as gay later in life, or the queer couple preparing to get married. Over the years, I have been introduced to people from across the race/age/gender identity/sexual orientation spectrum, and their stories have shaped my understanding of the world and hope for the future. It allows us to refocus on our collective future rooted in our assets - recognizing that healing will be part of the process necessary for long-term growth. Pride month offers us time to reflect on, and celebrate, the tapestry of identities and history that makes us who we are.
Our LGBTQ+ community is extremely multi-dimensional - and culturally rich. Since arriving in Louisville over 11 years ago, I have learned that, in a community that too often operates in silos, we must seek out new voices to expand our understanding of what is possible. Smith, a queer female, recounts conversations about intersectionality and the need to recognize and support the multiple identities that make up each of us. James Miguel Alcantara, a bisexual gender nonconforming trans man, says as a student, he sees hope in our youth.Īnd, Erin E.H. Ariel Brooks, a queer woman, says she is glad this weekend’s Kentuckiana Pride Festival is working to be inclusive and diverse.
