NEW YORK CITY BOY :: As Pride season unfolds across North America Vance Hedman takes us back to where it all began: Stonewall, in New York City, ground zero of all things Pride.
Being in Toronto, the host city of the 2014 WorldPride, I knew I would meet a lot of LGBQT people from around the world who are proud to be who they are. Proud to be apart of a community that is about acceptance and authenticity.
As pride comes around every summer, in any city, I take the opportunity to celebrate being a gay man. I also realize how being gay is a huge part of who I am.
This feeling became more apparent as I visited Stonewall in New York City. I knew the story behind the place, but being there was like me paying respect to every person who was or is LGBQT. It was the place where a group of people stopped being shamed and mistreated and became proud. I believe that experience has gotten passed down to all of us. To me that is what coming out is all about. We all share that, along with the courage that comes with it.
So as I stood in front of Stonewall watching two European men admiring this small bar with me, I thought how lucky I am to be apart of an amazing group of people. I love being who I am.
Which is why when WorldPride came to Toronto, I celebrated with an even greater understanding of what this event means and how being your true self is so important.
– Vance Hedman is editorial assistant at GGN. Follow him on Twitter.
