rage notes


IT’S JULY AND WE’RE ALREADY HALF WAY THROUGH 2017… REMARKABLE, ISN’T IT?


We’re about to celebrate the 241st birthday of


these United States and I don’t remember a time when they have seemed more divided. I’m not a pessimist by nature and that isn’t going to change because of the nature of our current political landscape, but it has certainly taken me aback a bit. Fights about healthcare, about who gets what


and how much, border walls, sexism and women’s access to healthcare, skin color, racism and the as- sault on our hard-won victories. Hard as it all may seem, the LGBTQ community and this country have faced many challenges before and this is just one more moment in time to test our mettle as a population and as a member of this great society. The closet didn’t crack us, ignorance and intolerance didn’t break our fighting spirit, the discrimination of Prop 8 and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” didn’t stop us and though the scourge of AIDS wounded us terribly, not even that could end our will to fight for what is right and true. We will evolve, as the markers of society’s standards change, but, we will never go back. Equality is a process, sometimes it’s beautiful and sometimes getting there is pretty ugly. I for one am proud to note many great changes witnessed in my lifetime and though they are being attacked at this moment on many fronts, no one can force us back into the dark recesses of society ever again. We have seen the light and it is good. Pride is about community, or at least I think


it should be. Our chosen symbol proudly flies at every event, its rainbow colors reflecting not only our Pride, but the broad range of people it represented within: Red for life, orange for heal- ing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for serenity and purple for spirit. Chosen and created by one of our recently passed warriors, Gilbert Baker [1951-2007] beautifully so, because of its


representative diversity. Interestingly enough, even that symbol has had to evolve. The original began with several additional colors and over time was honed down into the six so familiar to us now. Yes, we are diverse, yes, we have different


needs and desires, but we are a group of people who have managed to band together in a common fight towards an ultimate goal—one of equality and inclusion—or something that resembles it as much as humanly possible. Progress not perfection. It’s a saying that I use


often, to remind myself that we have marched so far forward. Thought we are not there yet, things are moving in the right direction overall. Being open to change and to each other, remembering when to fight and learning when not to attack each other, are part of the evolutionary process of growth. I for one, am proud to be a part of a community that never stops and never gives up.


Joel Martens,Editor in Chief “All of us who are openly gay are living


and writing the history of our movement. We are no more—and no less—heroic than the suffragists and abolitionists of the 19th century; and the labor


organizers, Freedom Riders, Stonewall demonstrators, and environmentalists of the 20th century. We are ordinary people, living our lives and trying as civil-rights activist Dorothy Cotton said, to ‘Fix what ain’t right’ in our society.” — Senator Tammy Baldwin


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Rage Magazine dba The Rage Monthly. The Rage Monthly is a registered trademark. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publishers or staff. Reproduction of any article, photo, listing or advertise- ment without the written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. The people, businesses and organiza- tions appearing in The Rage Monthly are supportive of the gay community. Mentions or photographs of any person, business, or organization are not a reflection of their sexual orientation. The Rage Monthly is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, dis- ability, sexual orientation or gender identity.


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RAGE monthly | JULY 2017


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