I'm feeling pretty proud, today.
Somehow I find myself as second-in-command of the Vast Empire's Navy division, having led the record-breaking Counterpunch Campaign, and having just posted the introduction for Chapter 9, the first all-club interdivisional story in seven years. And I've done all that writing as a player-character who, like me, is a man who is attracted to men rather than women.
For those of you who may be confused as to why I'm mentioning all this, it's because June is Pride Month around the world, and in my hometown of San Francisco it's actually Pride Weekend starting right now.
Not that you need proof (you have wikipedia), but here's a picture of our City Hall's big dome lit up in rainbow colors, with the "Painted Ladies" (a.k.a. the Victorian homes from the intro credits to Full House) in the foreground:
Pretty, no?
Anyway, a funny thing happened in IRC chat a couple minutes ago. I was about to leave to start getting ready for my big gay evening plans (
), and I hesitated before wishing the channel a "Happy Pride."
Then I remembered that you all have been friendly and supportive and honest with me, the whole time I've been here. And so I quickly resolved to keep reciprocating in kind. I signed off with a "Happy Pride," after all.
The experience made me think back to my first weeks in the VE, when I didn't know anyone and was just looking for a writers' group. Back then, I decided to "play it safe," by inventing a female romantic interest for my male player-character. Eventually, to my very pleasant surprise, I found that this was one online game/forum that
wasn't dominated by homophobia, and both my character and me "came out."
My point is this: everyone in the VE has something to celebrate this month, whether you're gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, or straight. Everyone here has made me feel welcome, and I count many of you as friends. By extension, you're all allies to my community, no matter who you find yourselves attracted to personally.
So say it loud with me: "Happy Gay Pride Month, everyone!"
[This message has been edited by
Trick
(edited June 28, 2013
9:04:55 PM)]
