The Chinese government is a fickled thing. They have laws against discrimination against the LGBTQ community, and, yet, they have laws banning games and media that have feminine men in them. Yeah…talk about hypocritical. They don’t even allow any PRIDE Parade anymore because it was “going against the harmony of China”. Nevertheless, I’m still swelling with PRIDE. Let me tell you why.
I came out to myself when I was in college. I always felt like it was no one’s busy regarding my sexuality. In my mind, if I want you to know, you’ll know. A few of my friends didn’t like that and would complain about it, but I would quickly point out that I’m not obligated to share all parts of myself with anybody. I’ll tell you when I’m ready and not a moment sooner. I lost a few friends at that moment, but gain so many more because of it.
Now, a decade or so later, I’m a fabulously gay man teaching aboard and prancing through his writing career. I’m happy that I’m out and about. I even got to help people guide themselves out of their closets on their terms and I’m friends with them through it all. You have no idea the feeling that overcomes you when you reassure someone that there’s nothing wrong with them. That they are beautiful, regardless of what people may – or may not – be saying about them. It’s a feeling like no other.
Now, there is a small problem that I’m currently facing…
I’m not pleased about the fact that I wasn’t able to go to PRIDE. China made it a rule that teachers who work at a school with less than 3000 students can’t reenter China upon leaving. So, I can’t go to any PRIDE Parade this year – or for the next four years. I must admit…I’m mildly disappointed. Correction: I’m pretty damn pissed.
But, I have to remind myself that when I’m done with China and moving to Europe. From there, I can act like a fool at any PRIDE that I want to participate in. I get to be as silly and raunchy as I have always been. In the words of Vanessa from In The Heights, it won’t be long now…any day.
But, until then, I still have so much work to do and goals to complete…
Now, please, don’t forget to follow me on my social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads) which are on the right side of my web page. Also, I do love hearing suggestions of what books to read outside of my norm (Science fiction and fantasy) as I am a part of the Goodreads’ reading challenge for 2022. My goal is to read 180 books this year and I’m already at 122. Good grief, I’m already halfway through the year. My brother says it’s unfair since I’m always around books as I’m an ELA teacher.
