Out and Proud!?

Why be out and proud?

Being out to those around you and in any situation where appropriate (appropriate being where any average hetroattracted person would mention their husband, boyfriend, or sexual attractions.) is fundamentally just being honest with yourself and the world. In an ideal world being out would be the expected norm and being in the closet would be a dishonest despicable deception. But, we do not live in an ideal world, ergo there are situations where being in the closet are acceptable and understandable.

This brings us to pride. When one thinks of pride, scenes of same-sex mardi grases proliferation the world during the month of June abound. It is unfortunate that pride has been co-opted into an excuse for a drunk party. But, at its core pride events are just an extension of being out.

They are being out publicly, in a group reaffirming your identity in a shameless way.

It is as if like Howard Beale in Network we’re collectively screaming “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!“

but should pride be separate from being out? As a festival the June events should exist as a celebration of history and the ability to be out. But, everyone should be proud everyday, as a component of healthy living we all must be out and proud of who we are, regardless of our sexual attractions or any other trait.

We as well as our communities deserve that much respect.