Hello all, hope you are still,
basking in,
the warm glow of the sun,
been an exceptionally beautiful,
Summer.
Socially,
it has been wonderful,
for me,
productivity and accomplishment,
wise,
not so much,
oh well,
there is always,
September
:-)
I spent a good part,
of the weekend at,
Pride celebrations,
I went to an informal cocktail,
on Thursday night,
with an acquaintance,
who I hope,
is becoming a,
friend.
We have much in common,
and,
much that contrasts,
which usually makes,
for stimulating,
relationships,
friendships.
I am blessed in,
the friendship,
department,
and,
this Summer,
I have developed new and newish bonds,
as well as making old ones,
stronger.
But,
I digress,
when don't I?
Saturday was community day,
in the rain,
but, it is my favourite part of Pride.
Social, political,
cultural, sports,
groups all out,
recruiting,
sharing,
info,
swag,
smiles.
And Sunday was,
The Parade.
It's been years,
since I went to a,
Pride Parade,
it is usually on very hot days,
always in,
the dog days of summer,
or pretty darn close.
This year was no exception,
as to the date,
but,
this year,
our Prime Minister,
was marching in the,
Pride Parade.
To me and many,
of my sisters and brothers,
this was important,
if nothing else,
symbolically.
Justin Trudeau,
is a politician,
a man,
with a family,
an imperfect man,
like all of us,
but,
think whatever,
you want of him,
he is the first,
Prime Minister of Canada,
to march in the parade.
Is that important?
So, important!
It is a symbol of,
acceptance,
not tolerance.
Tolerance is,
obviously,
much better than,
persecution,
but,
acceptance,
well,
that is a whole other level.
Justin Trudeau is an ally,
of the LGBTQ community of Canada.
He hasn't done anything for our,
community in terms of legislation,
that compares to what his father,
did when he was Minister of Justice,
way back when(1960's)
decriminalizing homosexuality,
or to what Paul Martin did,
the civil marriage act,
of 2005,
which provided a gender neutral,
definition of marriage.
But,
by marching,
the whole route,
of the parade not just the photo ops,
at the end.
He has done much.
No amount of snide and or glib,
remarks about his tendencies,
or his politics,
will take that away.
He marched in Toronto, Vancouver,
and,
in my home,
Montreal,
the three largest Canadian cities.
It meant a lot to me,
and,
my friends.
I bet it meant a lot,
to the older,
gays and lesbians,
who rode the pioneer float,
and,
who lined the route of the,
parade.
Those who lived through,
violence, discrimination,
and,
persecution.
The survivors of hate,
and AIDS,
remembering those,
who,
didn't.
So, maybe,
next time you want to use,
Justin as a punchline,
you think of that,
or maybe not,
your call.
Personally,
I say
Thank you, Justin.
Be well,
you all.
Later girls,
BB
Author: Bookish Butch
I am a bookish butch in my mid early fifties. I live in Montréal and always have. I used to run a small used bookstore. Reading keeps me sane. My latest jiggie is photography, book project in the works, living the dream
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