What Does Pride Mean to Me?

So, it is Pride Weekend in Atlanta…. And, I am super excited! I have been out for almost 10 years and this is my first Pride! I have been in town for every Pride, but I have never participated in any of the activities. I have never ventured ITP to hang out at the Park, dine at an outdoor patio as I watch the girls go by or even go to a club to dance until I cannot move anymore. I have just stayed at home and pretty much tried my best to hide who I really was.
Then something happened…. This year, something inside of me changed. I have developed this confidence, this acceptance, this "pride"; I guess you can say, for being gay, a lesbian, a homosexual, a woman who is a lover of women and only women.
Before this year, I never would have had the confidence to put any sort of sticker on my car, endorsing my acceptance of homosexuality and "their"/my rights. Now, I PROUDLY display my HRC sticker on my Jackie.
Before this year, I would have never volunteered and possibly listed my name and address on the roster of a group that promotes the acceptance of homosexuality and rights for all people. Now, I regularly volunteer with the HRC and am a member of their Atlanta Federal Club. I am also on the discussion group for the Atlanta Stonewall Democrats.
What changed inside me? I think it is because of before this year, I never educated myself to learn what it means to be truly different, to take that difference and turn it into a way to help others. To be proud that you are different, to display to others how proud you are to be different and to let them know it is okay for them to be proud to be different too…
So, what does Pride mean to me? It means for to get out there and educate the community, the hetero, homo, bi and transgender and the black, white, Asian and multi; on the importance of being not like everyone else and to accept them for who and what they are…. To me, it is not about partying, drinking, smoking and hooking up (even though I do enjoy three out of those four); it is about being a positive role model of a black lesbian.
So, I will be out this weekend...at the Park, working with the HRC, dining at outdoor patios and of course, watching the girls go by…. If you see me, stop and wish me a Happy Pride, for I will truly be happy and have a lot of which to be proud!