Celebrating Queer Activists

Pride: rainbow capitalism, an overabundance of flags, glittering cheeks, and a contradictory feeling of community among chaos. 

CARRYING IN THE COURTROOM

Queer people that lead the legislation conversation are the catalysts of all-inclusive laws that protect and maintain LGBTQ+ rights. In a time where politics are polarized worldwide, it can feel daunting to confront the real threats out there that argue against queer freedom. Vocal members of the community, like Bayard Rustin, that show the lasting impact that making yourself heard will have on history. During the Civil Rights Movement, he was one of the defining figures of intersectionality, being part of the LGBTQ+ and Black community. He faced a multitude of hardships, assumptions based on the color of his skin and unfair persecution because of his sexuality, yet he continued to push for justice.

Alongside Martin Luther King Jr., Rustin encouraged nonviolent means of protest, a tactic that validated the driving intention of the movement from the beginning. While his advocacy knew no bounds, he is remembered as the face that proves how far we have come. Wrongfully convicted for having sex with another man, he was sentenced to three months in prison and was registered as an offender. He received his justice decades later, during Obama’s presidency, when he was officially pardoned. Rustin’s name goes down in history as a lesson, a demand that no queer person ever be treated like a criminal for using their voice and their heart.

UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT, OVER THE HATE

The entertainment industry, as we have come to know it, echoes the overflowing creativity of the queer community. We would not know art, be able to understand it and all of its meaning and possibilities, without the diligence of LGBTQ+ artists. Among them are activists that seek to use their work to project their pride. Through blunt display or subtle nuance, the message is clear: the gay rights movement is never over. Talents like Lena Waithe channel their progressive efforts into their work by speaking out against mistreatment and encouraging representation on the screen, on the page, and on the runway. As an actress and writer, Waithe became the first Black queer woman to receive an Emmy Award for her contributions in comedy writing, history that we hope to see repeated.

Making her name in the industry, Waithe opened up about her sexuality and place within the LGBTQ+ community on the stage. She not only stole the show, but our hearts as she proclaimed her dedication and gratitude to her fellow queer people. To see a woman stand in front of a crowd, a sea of eyes that watch from their seats in the audience or from their couches at home, is an inspiration that will encourage queer entertainers not to hide from themselves. She carries her identity with her wherever she goes, citing her sexuality as a tool she uses in her work or wearing it in the form of a rainbow cape on the Met Gala runway. Take a page from Waithe’s book, don’t shy away from your true color.

BRINGING THE FIGHT TO THE FIELD

Influence extends beyond the political domain. It is no secret that mainstream media has a heavy weight in the handling of human rights. The arts have always been more accommodating to the LGBTQ+ community. After all, many forms of self-expression originate from queer minds, but the stage is very different than the sports industry and Michael Sam takes the title of being the first openly gay football player. In an arena that is male-dominated and stereotypically consumed by a straight audience, the bravery of people who declare their sexuality is not to be taken lightly. It is, in its own way, an act fighting against discrimination and conventions.

Michael Sam, a player for the Dallas Cowboys, made history when he came out as gay during his draft with the National Football League (NFL). During his brief time with the NFL, he solidified his place among the icons of the LGBTQ+ community. As most queer people have experienced, mistreatment runs rampant in professional settings and, as sports are inherently aggressive, prejudice can spiral into something much larger. Sam had the courage to speak about his experiences, encouraging the sports industry to change the way they treat their queer participants. His action marks the beginning of a new age for sports, the NFL, where queer people can see themselves in their heroes and follow in their footsteps.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Queer activists, past and present, deserve to have their names remembered. It is because of them that we have the opportunity to celebrate queerness now and in the years to come. The power of words, read on the screen or spoken into a megaphone, spreads faster when people aren’t afraid of sparing support. Queer activism is not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for anyone that has ever felt outcasted or unheard. By uplifting the voices of those who choose to speak out against discrimination, queer people will be free to live happily and unburdened. That should be everyone’s goal: to make the world more accepting of the people in it.