Gay Pride Parade Protesters
This past summer, I volunteered at an LGBT Youth Program in Chicago. Meeting so many incredible young adults and learning about their struggles taught me a lot about opportunity and privilege. Although I often feel marginalized on Miami's campus, my path through life has been free of the obstacles faced by many of the youth I met this summer.
On a sunny day in July, I was honored to ride on the Youth Program's float in the Chicago Gay Pride parade. At the front of the float, I saw thousands of supporters crowded into the streets of Boystown (Chicago's "Gay District"). For the first time, I felt truly proud to express a part of my identity that I had tried to hide for so long. It was at that moment, when I saw BOTH allies and fellow LGBT persons congregated to support the LGBT community, that I understood the true meaning of social justice and equality.
However, at the end of the parade route, we encountered several religious protesters, bent on destroying our time to feel equal. Carrying hateful signs and yelling hurtful obscenities, the protesters served as a wake up call for me. Looking into their faces, I realized that social justice is something I would have to fight for every single day. Towards the bottom of the picture, my coworker Tasha can be seen motioning for us to yell louder, to fight harder for the social justice that we and all other marginalized groups deserve.