Feature Story: Chloe Schwenke On Another side of Pride
June – the celebratory and festive month of LGBTQ+ Pride – slipped by so quickly. For me, it started on a less than ideal note, as the threat of someone in the crowd of spectators brandishing a weapon disrupted the very end of the massive Pride parade through Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. I was one of those end-of-parade marchers; as such I had my first experience watching a vast panic-stricken crowd careen straight toward me and the marchers around me (including some very young children). It was a terrifying moment, and for those of us marching at the very end of the parade, our parade was over. That disappointment was somewhat assuaged by having seen more transgender flags than ever before (not counting the one that I was using as a cape). Even more remarkably, many people seemed to even be aware of what and who that pale blue, pink, and white striped banner represented. I took note, and I had to smile. We have a flag. We’ve arrived. Despite our minuscule numbers, we’ve ...