There it was so cool to be queer that even the straight kids tried it. Outing was the opposite of pride, but at least the closet doors began to budge.Īfter I graduated, I landed at Hampshire College, a tiny experimental school in western Massachusetts that felt like an upside-down world.
The unspoken code was “don’t ask, don’t tell.” Then came AIDS and the outing of closeted musicians, movie stars and politicians. High school was an exercise in camouflage and self-erasure. Throughout my teens, the same rule applied to Queen, Culture Club, Judas Priest and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
But if you noticed any of that, someone would inevitably call you out: “What are you - gay?” Yes, the man singing about how freedom “took him knee-high to a man” wears glittery suits, sequined hats and bedazzled eyewear - and calls himself Captain Fantastic. Yes, there are over-the-top flutes, horns and strings. I was a 6-year-old working-class tomboy when I first heard “Philadelphia Freedom.” It figured prominently into the city’s 1976 Bicentennial celebration, then later at parades, sporting events, pretty much every occasion that called for civic pride. But it took me decades to understand that the song wasn’t really about tennis, or Philadelphia - which is why it came to resonate so much more with me. He wrote the song with Bernie Taupin in 1975 for Billie Jean King, drawing inspiration from her pioneering mixed-gender tennis team, the Philadelphia Freedoms, with a melody that nodded to the great Philly soul sounds of Gamble and Huff. They are doing so now because the involvement of former Cardinal Lance Berkman gives them an excuse to do so.When most people think of “Philadelphia Freedom,” a single refrain comes to mind: “I lo-o-ove you/Yes I do!” They’re hard-pressed to remember the rest of the words, because as with many of Elton John’s songs, the lyrics are kind of oblique. Gay groups have never protested this event per se, until this year. Louis Cardinals are getting ready for an event similar to one many teams in Major League Baseball hold every year, in which present and former players who are Christians share their faith and testimony with fans who attend the event. Right now we’re in the transition between 4 and 5, and you see it playing out right now in St.
If Christians who don’t join the movement cite the Bible as their reason, use this to establish biblical beliefs as “hateful” and “bigoted.”
If they don’t, demand apologies/ostracization/sensitivity training/firing/whatever.ĥ. Get in the faces of Christians and demand to know if they agree with the celebration of gay pride and gay marriage. Pressure major corporations and other societal institutions to join in the celebration of “pride” on threat of boycotts, demonstrations and negative press if they don’t. Establish the idea of “pride” for being gay. Establish homosexuals as an oppressed minority grievance group. It is, and always has been, about marginalizing biblical Christianity. Gay activism isn’t really about homosexuals and their “rights.” It never has been. Louis gay activists blast Cardinals for holding ‘Christian day’ at ballpark But together we can make big strides toward a truly inclusive community. To fuel this important conversation, we’ve expanded the colors of the flag to include black and brown. Especially when it comes to recognizing people of color in the LGBTQ+ community. A lot of good, but there’s more we can do. In 1978, artist Gilbert Baker designed the original rainbow flag. Will be inttoduced at Philly Pride this year. Lookin for input from the LGBTQ Black and Brown community. “With all of the black and brown activism that’s worked to address racism in the Gayborhood over the past year, I think the new flag is a great step for the city to show the world that they’re working toward fully supporting all members of our community.”Ī spokesperson for the event would not confirm the new design, but in a statement described the flag reveal as “a special, can’t-be-missed unveiling and raising of a brand-new Pride flag which promises to be a step toward inclusivity, to spur dialogue within the community, and to impact the worldwide conversation.” “The black and brown stripes are an inclusionary way to highlight black and brown LGBTQIA members within our community,” said one source involved with the flag-raising event who asked not to be named. The new design will be, from top to bottom: black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Philadelphia PA, Philadelphia is redefining the LGBT pride flag.The city has a launched a new campaign, “More Color More Pride,” adding one black and one brown stripe to the traditional six colored rainbow.