July 1st, 2017 was San Antonio's Pride Parade. San Antonio is a liberal city, but we are also a Texan city, and a city snuggled up to the Mexican border. This creates a great mix of culture and tradition and a wide variance in political/social views. Our city's Pride has grown over the past few years and has gone from being a small blip on the heteros' radar to a sought after, family-friendly event.
Our Little Bear is 19 months old and this year marked his second San Antonio Pride Parade. This year was much more exciting for him. He not only could hold up his own head, he could wave a rainbow flag (vigorously); surely annoying those sitting next to us and titillating all who walked by. Little Bear was having a blast! He saw lots of "bikes," cool floats, bright lights, enjoyed loud music, and just soaked in an overall atmosphere of celebration and acceptance.
As one float passed by a Drag Mother (a senior Drag Queen) pointed at my son. She mouthed "thank you." Put her hands to her heart and gave and angelic and sincere grin.
Every mom is familiar with the almost expected compliments for their child's "gorgeousness and brilliance," but a sincere "thank you" gave me pause.... I looked around and realized what this view must look like from that float. A Queen from the Harvey Milk generation was looking down at a community of gay and straight families alike. My son, our next generation, was being raised with the idea that being LGBTQ was not only okay, but worth celebrating. During the Trump Era, this exchange was worth noting.
We may not always feel like we have control over our political environment, but we certainly have an immeasurable ability to introduce a better world to our next generation. A generation where love and acceptance is the norm. This thought, this moment, that thank you, was a powerful one.
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