Black Lives Matter Protest Proves Pride Needs More Empathy, Less Prejudice

[LostOne4Ever]

64. I feel they should have brought up their issues with pride before the parade

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=3 color=#009999]Many of their requests were reasonable and had they brought them up they could have addressed them without interrupting the event or sewing disunity.

How would BLM feel if its own African American LGBTQ members interrupted one of their events or a black pride type event to protest the bigotry of LGBTQ people in the African American Community? All of these things are for good causes and there should at least be an effort to work together.

That said, with regards to the requests by BLM I feel request #8 is mistaken. There are gay law enforcement officers and to tell them they can't have a float or wear their uniforms on their own float defeats the whole point of pride. To show that LGBTQ people have value, to be proud of who one is in face of adversity. To show that LGBTQ people are a part of culture and have jobs, lives, and loved ones just like anyone else.

Police officers, just like black people and the LGBTQ community are all apart of are culture. They all have value and the intersectionality between all three should be celebrated.

I can't help but feel this controversy plays right into the hands of those who oppose both BLM and Pride. It sets groups against themselves. Pride should by all means be cognizant of the issues black and trans-people face and address that. They could, for example, possibly do this by making sure the floats are significantly separated, or other similar actions. But, it shouldn't shut down all law-enforcement representation, and should have given pride a chance to fix these things before protesting.

The only way to beat the bigots is to work together. Allies in law enforcement speaking out can help both groups. It can help fight against LGBTQ bigotry that exists in our police departments and gives support to passing reforms to end violence by police against the black community.

We are all stronger together than apart. Always.[/font]