I have lived and worked in West Hollywood since about 1999. WeHo, as we call it, has evolved over the years from a “gay community” to a more inclusive one of “LGBTQA+ and allies”. So, PRIDE is a familiar concept for me.
I won’t lie, I originally moved to the area, not only for work, but for the safety of the community. The crime rate for rape and assault for people of my demographic was low here. I grew to love my community and really can’t imagine living anywhere else.
But this was my experience, not that of my friends and colleagues who have had to deal with the discrimination often faced when one identifies as LGBTQA+. And while WeHo is a great community, we still have interlopers who come here to cause trouble, especially during things like our Pride Parades and celebrations.
As I was thinking about what I would write about this month, I thought to myself, “no one has ever discriminated against me because of with whom or how I choose to have sex.” No one. Ever. I have been discriminated against because I am female, but never because I prefer sex with men. I have been discriminated against because I am not attractive according to the standards of our society here in LA, but never because I am straight.
Something I have never understood is why some people care about with whom other people have sex? WHY DO YOU CARE? It’s no one else’s business what we choose to do in private. My value as a human being does not depend upon with whom or how I choose to have sex! My frustration is coming out, so I’ll wrap it up…
All I know is I’m proud of all of my LGBTQIA+ friends and colleagues who are and aren’t publicly out and out-spoken even though they have to put up with anti-LGBTQIA+ bullshit every single day. Now THAT takes PRIDE!!