Member-only story
I Grew Up in One Of the Most LGBTQ Friendly Cities in the World
Pride month should be year-round
I grew up in San Francisco a very LGBTQ-friendly city. Where gay and trans rights are equal to human rights. I was exposed to so much of the community early on that it is hard for me to understand why others can’t accept this fundamental fact.
San Francisco has celebrated pride for decades. Our pride parade started in the 1970s and is the largest and most attended in the country. People travel from all over the world to experience it. It’s done in true San Francisco style with costumes of all varieties, and for some, clothing is optional.
Growing up in a pride-friendly city meant I had teachers, family, friends, parents of friends, neighbors, and later on, co-workers, bosses, and the like who were members of the LGBTQ community. In San Francisco, it’s okay to be who you are. That’s why it was a draw for the Beatniks and Hippies of earlier generations.
Even in such a diverse city, I can remember hate crimes. There were those that judged or who didn't understand. Thankfully, overall, people were tolerant and many people were 100% accepting.
This was in the 80s and 90s. So why then, are we faced with such intolerance for the LGTBQ community today? Why have we gone backward?
