Why Pride Rejects Bigotry

Stacy Spink, the Pride movement initially started with parades in reaction to anti-LGBTQ violence, harassment, and discrimination. The purpose was to affirm the human rights of members of the LGBTQ community. As the movement grew, it also became a celebration of LGBTQ culture and a relief from the everyday bigotry they experienced. It’s made incredible progress in the last several decades in legal rights and general social acceptance for LGBTQ people. In that time, the scope of the movement has broadened from primarily-white organizations to ones that span all ethnic and cultural groups. It’s also generally welcomed the support of non-LGBTQ allies who believe that everyone deserves the freedom to be true to themselves and live their own lives in peace.

I agree the Pride movement can’t be inclusive of absolutely every viewpoint. It can’t accept positions that devalue its members’ personal worth and dignity. For instance, it can’t accept transphobic behavior, such as you espoused in your letter, any more than the broader civil rights movement can accept racist behavior.

You have the right to be a jerk. But people have the right to exclude jerks from their party.

-Travis Reitter, Castro Valley