Pride 2020 – but not less because of that

I was surprised when I found the invitation to the Pride parade in Graz on September 5 in my mailbox. I assumed that the Pride parade, usually held in June, would not take place in my hometown this year, like all other events, due to Corona. The announcement says: “A little later than usual, but not less colorful.” Of course, all participants are required to wear a mask at the parade and COVID-19 safety rules apply for the subsequent pride picnic.

Skeptically, I put the invitation aside but held it again in hand a short time later and thought about it again. The annual participation in the Pride parade is for me not only rainbows, glitter, alcohol and party, but to follow the basic idea of the Stonewall riots: revolt against discrimination and equality of all sexual orientations. This has by no means lost its importance in 2020. In mid-August, three panes of the redesigned shop window of the RosaLila PantherInnen club (LGBTQ + interest group in Styria) were smashed in Graz. Just a week after a rainbow bench was set up in Salzburg as a sign of tolerance, it was defaced with spray paint. And exactly on the day of Pride there was a homophobic attac in Vienna during a demonstration against the Coronavirus measures. Homosexual persons were defamed as “child molesters” and a rainbow flag was torn. These are most recent examples of hate attacks and homophobia in our country. It is even more important that the community remains visible in times like these and must fight against animosity. The importance of Pride parades is confirmed by such actions.

There is still the thought of the pandemic. Is it smart attend at a Pride parade right now? This year’s Pride summer was different because of COVID-19: Most parades have been canceled and replaced by online events to prevent the disease from further spreading. Even if this is a huge loss for our community, doesn’t the decision make sense? Despite the requirement to wear a mask and keep distance. “But not less colorful” – as the organizers announce. Then I spontaneously think of the annual discussions on social media about fetish and kink at Pride parades. Some take the position that wearing fetish clothes and expressing sexuality does not belong in public because it might make people and children feel uncomfortable or even harm them. This may be due to the unfortunately still widespread opinion of society that sex is inherently harmful in a public context and thus, taboo.

Others support the fact that the leather and SM scene have a long history in the LGBTQ + movement and is an expression of queer culture and sexuality. Therefore, fetishists and kinksters have the right to participate in every Pride parade. Long enough our preferences have been assessed as a pathological instinct disorder by psychiatry. That is precisely why we do not need to submit to CIS heteronormativity in public and not hide but can be proud of who we are and what we stand for – in all our diversity.

A Pride parade is for queer people of all ages, sexual affiliations and preferences. We march and protest together, regardless of the differences that shape us. No one is advocating for sexual acts in public. I don’t force anyone to participate in my fetish. Nor am I forced by others to share their preferences. We can be who we are and, above all, the way it makes us happy.

The current virtual bubble can bridge, but not replace. Even if the recently launched Corona traffic light for Graz is now switched to yellow, and thus not lacking the spot of black and gray in the promised colorfulness, I wore my leather in public for the first time in many weeks, flew the leather pride flag and proudly marched and demonstrated. For our community, for awareness of fetish and kink, for being different, against hatred and discrimination and without harming anyone or causing discomfort. I wore my mask made of leather and kept my distance. Every opportunity to show our face and to stand up for what shapes us and our lives is, despite the pandemic, valuable and should be taken. As a compromise for myself, I had a glass of glittering prosecco at home instead of at the Pride picnic.