Inclusiveness: Equal Opportunity Tears

Dear Editor

I can’t speak for all members of the LGBTQ+ community, their families, or their allies, because people look at things differently and have different emotions even if they are ‘’labelled’’ under one umbrella term. I will say that during the Pride Parade up Market Street in the City last summer, I shed many a tear at the site of the Pride Flag, plus all the love, inclusion, and unity gathered together on one street. However, when I went to the Italian Heritage Parade in North Beach a couple weeks ago, I shed tears too at the site and sound of the military bands passing by and playing patriotic songs about our country. If I am at a public event and the Star Spangled Banner is sung, I usually cry also. (even though I would actually prefer a different song be the anthem and I support football players rights to take a knee). Maybe I am just an emotional person. I know I am often moved to tears by movies, books, and holiday events. In any case, the anti-LGBTQ+ crowd does not have a monopoly on patriotism. LGBTQ+ people can be patriotic. LGBTQ+ people can also be Christians. But that’s a whole different topic and I will stop here before I ad lib too much.

–Angela Shipp, Castro Valley