Out Leadership reposted this
Yesterday was a special day. In a time when the rights of my community are being systematically erased, and Pride flags are being banned (and even burned), having the Vice President of the United States open her Residence to #LGBTQ leaders from across the entire country mattered more than ever before. Yesterday was also the 8th anniversary of the horrific Pulse nightclub shooting, which took 49 innocent lives. But as my friend Billy Porter said in his remarks (before taking us to church with his epic song “Audacity”), we’ve been here before. Those who hate us and try to intimidate us with fear, will never win. Because our community has always had to fight for our right to exist, and to live openly with the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution…and while we may suffer setbacks (1,100 anti-LGBTQ bills in the last 18 months and counting..), we will always prevail. Turns out, Love Always Wins. I think Vice President Harris said it best, when she reminded us that whether in the AIDS crisis, or in our fight for marriage equality (my buddy Jim Obergefell was there yesterday as well!), the LGBTQ community always finds (and never forgets) JOY. And to me, that is what Pride is all about. Taking stock of our progress, coming together as a community to recharge ourselves for the fight ahead, and most importantly to CELEBRATE and bring JOY—and to have a little (or a lot of) fun! Thank you Madame Vice President for having our back for decades (she performed her first same-sex marriage twenty years ago—and famously refused to defend Proposition 8 when she was AG). And thank you to ALL the Allies of the LGBTQ community who have stood with us for so long. This Pride month, please make yourselves even more visible. We need you more than ever. Happy Pride! #pride Out Leadership #HRC Gautam Raghavan Rufus Gifford Jim Obergefell Jessica Stern Kelley Robinson #JonathanVanNess #AnthonyRapp #AdmiralRachelLevine #BillyPorter
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I have your back my friend!!
Nice Sign Todd Sears. Would expect nothing else from you 😎
I believe I was right behind you when entering! It was amazing to be in solidarity with LGBTQ+ changemakers during these turbulent times. We need solidarity now more than ever.
Todd you are a game changer and a true inspiration. Thank you for sharing this.
Thats amazing! Thank you for what you do for our community
I would recommend flying a pure white flag (every other day) saying... (old school) "Hate is not a family value"!
Wow. What an incredible opportunity to celebrate PRIDE!
Todd Sears, thanks for sharing insights from this event to highlight the journey and challenges of the LGBTQ community and emphasize how Pride month efforts help support and connect the community to keep moving forward together!
Thank you Todd for being there for our community!!
Screenwriter
2moI would like to take a beat to bask in the sunshine of my friend's leadership here. My god Todd. Thank you. I even like us with grey.