Yesterday’s evening rush hour Pride celebration was not last minute, having been in the works for some time. The mood and scale of the event, however, were boosted by Friday’s Supreme Court ruling.
With spirits high, the celebration at the Old State House was not without reminders that same-sex marriage is neither the singular issue for the LGBT community, nor is the SCOTUS decision a sign that equality has been achieved.
“As we celebrate today over the marriage decision let us remember as Blacks and women have discovered before, it’s one thing to win nice
pieces of paper from the government saying you are free, and it’s quite another thing to secure dignity and freedom in practice,” said Richard Nelson, Hartford resident and part of queerstories workshop.
Nelson said, “It will be up to the LGBT movement and our allies to ensure that today’s court victory isn’t just a nice piece of paper.”
With yesterday’s Pride rally timed to mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a more entertainment-focused event is planned for September 2015.
Richard
A little explanation about the photo of Mini Deluxe and the sign from the Westboro Baptist Church. Queerstories workshop’s little play, “Whoever Knew In 82” was held at the Pride rally. Mini was a part of it. In 1982 at the PRIDE rally the Blue Berets who were against anything LGBT came to picket. They have a long rabid history working against us, under the guise that Heaven and the Heavenly Hosts sent them. Our play used quotes from their signs in 82 and from signs and slogans in 2015. We wanted to make folks aware of the fore-runners of the Political and Religious Right who operated in the Hartford area, that the P& R is still very much active today and a backlash is unfortunately inevitable. Once our little skit was over we gave a short ourstory lesson of what was happening in 82 and what was it like now. How much has changed and how much still needs to be changed. (A LOT)
I just wanted to explain this because when another photo of a member of our group who is a prominent member of the LGBTQ Family was posted elsewhere by a former lawmaker, who is gay, death threats were received by the person in the photo. Yes hate is everywhere!
Kerri Provost
Thanks for the explanation, though I thought it was pretty clear what the nature was of those signs in this context.
bruce rubenstein
In 91 a small bunch of us straight,but were very progressive and senior operatives in the Successful race of Carrie Perry for Mayor pressed to have Susan Hyde on the ticket…the very first openly LGBT. person on the Hartford Council….those Blue Berets picketed us then…
Richard
I remember quite well campaigning with Susan all over the West End. What I liked about her was she took a very multi-issue stand. She came out for the Janitors on strike as well as in support of LGBTQ issues. In 1989 when John Bonelli ran on the People for Change ticket the Berets passed out some very nasty leaflets comparing a vote for John with the spread of AIDS, a vote for a thief, or murderer. John still has the leaflet and it is enough to make a person very mad.
Our LGBTQ community here in Hartford along with our strong allies such as you Bruce were always ready to stand up and fight back in the spirit of Stonewall, Sylvia Rivera, Marsha P. Johnson and all Liberation Warriors. Thanks for your many years of work for progressive issues.
bruce rubenstein
Thank you Richard for your kind words.
Steve Thornton
Great work and congrats to you Richard and all of the Queerstories Workshop. Hope you will have more for us in September!