The existence is of the essence, comparing two souls is unsettling!
When I exist as an individual, I matter for being me.
You exist because you matter separately!
When that supernatural force didn't create us to be the same
Who are we to compare, to make anyone feel low?
A person’s choices and beliefs, practices, and preaching are of one’s choosing. Denying anyone this right, the right which lets one be themselves should be accounted as cruelty in all forms. Everyone deserves a chance to be able to express themselves, to manage to have a place in the world.
Just take a second, wait a minute, and imagine what it would be like to be shoved into a form, a mind where you can’t live to be yourself! The thought is scary, isn’t it? Before we start to point fingers at how the situation has worsened so much.
LGBTQ+ is considered an umbrella term which unearthed the fluidity of the term sexuality. For the longest time sexuality has been taken up as a black and white or two sides of the coin.
LGBTQ+ is an acronym which when expanded describes the following terms:
Essentially first we need to understand what gender, sexuality, and sex specifically mean. Our gender and sexuality are essentially very different yet they go hand in hand with each other. Sexuality is the sexual feeling or the feeling of being physically involved with someone, the terms of LGBTQ+ describes the various sexualities which are out there. On the other hand, sex is the physical manifestation or the physical characteristics, which is either male or female. Gender in the end is the psychological and social manifestation which essentially means in what role do we feel comfortable in, in what mindset we want to adapt to.
Trying to understand the hassles and difficulties of being a little different from the masses, alongside understanding the meaning of pride and the pride flag. With June being recognized as the month to celebrate pride, pride month started with the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. An entire month dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ voices, the celebration of LGBTQ culture, and the support of LGBTQ rights. Throughout June, nationwide, there have traditionally been parades, protests, drag performances, live theater, and memorials and celebrations of life for members of the community who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. It is not just a fest but with indeed deeper meaning. With the parade gaining momentum in the early 1970s, an artist Gilbert Baker in 1978 designed the rainbow flag. The symbol of a rainbow is not merely there to signify diversity but each color has its meaning.
Change has been constant through - out, evolution is part of progress during the parade history the flag also evolved.
Sometimes all one requires is not to be just seen but to be heard, to share and learn. Just in the trial of learning and experiencing the good, the bad, the improvement was the goal of the event at Social Chandigarh!
Just as colourful as a rainbow is, so was the event filled with painting and colouring and stories. Stories which helped us to learn a little more and grow a little more!
Life isn’t a bed of roses for a few, everyone has difficulties but some have it a little more. On the road to find oneself, identity acceptance is a must. But identity isn't just accepted by us for some it is acceptance by society.
Talking to Sweety Sharma, an LGBTQ+ supporter and one of the board members of Saksham trust which is a Chandigarh-based organization has been an ally to the community for the past 3 years. On joining hands with us Spreading smiles they helped us to become more inquisitive and, earning more brilliantly about what Pride is. Sharing an experience she explained how a person in his early 20s was scared to be a part of a normal family dinner with everyone because he was afraid to be outed accidentally. In the hope that this stigma will go away and no one will be afraid to accept oneself! According
to her, “labels are meaningless, at the end of the day we are human beings, between these labels and prejudices humanity might be losing its way. With time and work, with dedication and talking about what pride is.
Finding the idea to give the festival of colors a new meaning is a masterpiece in itself.
Although the gathering to celebrate pride was done on the occasion of Holi, we thought the best time to talk about this is now as the world believes in following trends. With each passing day when trends are becoming the new reality, we are in dire need to keep ourselves in the present. Talking to the founder of Spreading smiles herself, Itika Sharma a Pharmaceutical professional stated that what she experienced about LGBTQ+ by seeing the movies and series and spending time with them with no filter and no masks and no pretense was enlightening. Seeing them laugh, dance, share stories, and evening hearing prejudices they hear brought her to tears. How at times people forget that everyone is a human being, everyone has a soul which shines brighter than the sun. She said,” if one experience was so intriguing how many regular events, talks, and everything would happen and from there started our pride month pledge of “ Celebrating pride by spreading smiles!
All the changes take time, but each helping hand along the way will help because every small step is a victory!
Step by step a road is built,
Let’s take a pledge to build that road to acceptance of all!
Reaching miles by spreading smiles!
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