Pride

Pride isn’t about being glad you’re gay 

(although I am)  

it’s about taking something back 

something that feels stolen 

like collecting all the stares 

that take too long 

putting them in a box 

and saving them for 

one weekend 

to open and 

let it all out 

it’s a celebration 

an annual reminder 

that you didn’t die 

that being gay hasn’t been 

a death sentence 

it’s about flaunting it

and being 

TOO GAY TO FUNCTION 

rubbing it in their faces 

and not taking it 

for one weekend 

it’s about 

making out and hooking up 

and making straight people uncomfortable 

it’s about behaving the way 

they do 

EVERYDAY

~for one weekend~ 

it’s about waking up covered in glitter 

bathroom selfies 

and anniversary’s 

pride is rebellious 

it’s protesting 

and being mad at corporate sponsorship 

it’s sun burns and walking around the park 

and dance parties 

it’s makeup and glitter lips

it’s feeling safe enough 

to hold your lover’s hand 

it’s wearing mesh 

in the daytime  

it’s not being othered 

for one weekend 

it’s about being

queer 

lesbian 

gay 

trans 

bi 

intersex 

a sexuals 

it’s about being anything 

other than straight

so 

straight folks 

you can come to pride 

buy the merch 

tip the bartenders 

witness what we’ve accomplished in the 50 years 

since Stonewall 

but remember 

you 

are 

guests 

and if you feel 

unwanted or unwelcome 

that’s ok (we feel that everyday) 

take that as your cue to leave 

and don’t have any hard feelings about it