'I Celebrate' Pride 2010

I don’t spend that much time assessing my life. Obsessing over it -- sure, but not really assessing with no real time to take note or stock.

I used to reserve the assessing for my birthday -- early October -- to be sure, and then at the New Year, so twice a year. But for the last couple of years I’ve started to look at my life from Pride to Pride. What is worth celebrating?

I celebrate you and me and the beginning and what it brings.

Life and living it… our way.

I celebrate the justice, fairness and safety that are on the way.

We will ask and we will tell -- soon!

The laws that will protect and serve us ALL
And the works of those who’ve done it.

I celebrate Brother Baldwin and his big tellin’ eyes.

I celebrate the queen in you—and me too!

I celebrate the beauty of a rainbow and what it means.

I rejoice in parades of color, love and laughter.

I celebrate the black angel at the ice cream truck.

I celebrate dresses, ties, vests, and leather and what ever you choose.

I can go on…and I will.

I celebrate a silent campaign of faces

And a rainbow celebration at the White House this year.

I celebrate music that makes you wanna move your ass—beautiful men strutting on boxes shakin’ what they mama gave ‘em.

I celebrate mamas who know and mamas who always knew.

I’m looking for Langston and celebrating him too!

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I celebrate that anything worth having is worth working—fighting for.

I celebrate my sisters -- my mothers. Angela, Audre, Ms.Brooks and Billy too and the mother and sister in you.

I won’t forget!

Today I celebrate you and me and you in me.

I relish in fire-eating dykes, queer law students and groups that support.

I celebrate Glsen, Glaad, my Ally’s The Advocates, and Pride.

Keith, Crystal, Brandon, Becky, Graham, Sam and Chrissy, Leon Melissa, and Thomas-straights that are on my side.

I shout out the marchers -- those who walked before me and those who stand beside me.

I am remembering AIDS walk and Jamal’s life.

I know the incredibly true adventure of two girls in love.

I know that ‘Laughing Matters…next Gen,’ this Gen, and the Gen Before.

I shout out Lorraine, and tina, d, kim, dr. chin, kjp, des, nina, leisha, tika, ri, hanifah, tatum, boo, kitten, t and mel too -- the real L word!

I celebrate two men across from me at dinner tonight in candle lit beauty and the whispers of women alone at last.

Those who come out and those whose who stay in, folks we don’t know by name, wishing you safety, peace, and freedom I celebrate it all the same.