We’re in our groove here and QueerDoc: queer all year long. Today is PRIDE Monday for many of us, and we might be sporting some sun-burnt noses and a few blisters after a few days of celebrations, or even some let-down after a full weekend of events. The past several months have been hard all around, but we are excited to see a growing number of court wins, and we expect to see more, and we have plenty to celebrate even while it is hard all around us. Bans on gender affirming care are unconstitutional. We know it, you know it, our opponents know it.
We love what we do. Not just because we see joy every day when we see our patients, but because we’re also doing this for us. Every one of us at QueerDoc is queer. Almost all of us are trans. We do this because of community.
Many of us (not just at QueerDoc!) have always known that we were different. Our paths to PRIDE may all look a little different, but we hope that, no matter your personal circumstances, you have moments and people where you can unabashedly be your full self, and that’s the deep truth to why PRIDE is so joyful: it is refusing to be hidden, and shining strong with those who see and love your light.
We asked our staff for a few thoughts about PRIDE:
1. What does PRIDE mean to you?
Pride means being unapologetically my queer af self. Pride means gratitude for my queer family and community. Pride means chaps and jockstraps. Pride means sweaty fun with a rando. Pride means envious cishets. Pride means dykes on bikes. Pride means protest and justice. Pride means honoring all the queers who came before us. Pride means queer creativity, talent, power, love, sex, and joy. Pride means solidarity and hope. Pride means we will prevail.
2. Tell me about your favorite PRIDE moments.
That time in Seattle when my partners and I were late to march in the parade, so we planned to join up with our group mid-route. The sidewalks were PACKED with people. But when we got to the parade route it was completely empty- literally no one in the street. Turns out the tail of the parade had gotten held up a few blocks back and the front of the parade had gone ahead without them. So we hopped into the street and marched- just the three of us, all naked and rainbows- down an empty street in downtown Seattle, lined with thousands of people cheering us on. It was surreal.
3. What would you tell your younger self about PRIDE?
You are completely queer. Get TF out of Oklahoma.
4. If you could go to any PRIDE celebration in the world, which one(s)? Why?
I know this is probably cheating, but I would go to Stonewall. I wanna throw that brick!
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