I have lived on County Road 8 for almost nine years. Every year during pride month we put up a pride flag. This year we have left the pride flag up – partially out of laziness but also out of pride. I am a straight, married women with children. However, both my husband and I have parents who are gay. Parents who spent years living in the closet and being ashamed of their identity. I am proud of who my father was and who my mother-in-law is. I want my children to be proud too and to know that “love is love”.
A few years ago, my child who was in Grade 1 at the time, was called “a lesbian” on her bus by an older boy. The school addressed the issue but this comment raised my eyebrow. Where was this boy learning this language? Why did he target my child? We had the pride flag up when this occurred and I wondered if that boy’s family had made a comment when driving by the house.
On Oct. 23, while I sat in my front room working, a white pickup truck drove by and I heard someone yell one word. It took a moment for my brain to process what I heard. They yelled “faggot!”, and kept driving.
I recognize that this hateful action in the scheme of things is minimal. However, if this type of action is accepted and not called out, what type of message are we sending to the community? To kids or adults that may be scared and ashamed to express their identity?
I will leave my pride flag up and I encourage others to do the same. Hateful people will not scare me, only make me more committed to being an ally and letting other people know that we support them. I hope when people pass by the flag they comforted and know that they are not alone.
Rachel Stephenson
Napanee