This past weekend, cities all over the world held Pride parades to celebrate Pride Month. (Turkey also had a Pride parade, which made me happy to see!) Philadelphia held their parade on Sunday, 10 June 2018 and I am so glad the rain held. The parade was beautiful, I met so many wonderful people, and I was happy that I could celebrate with the LGBT community.
This group. This group, you guys. ❤ All love. I’m asexual, though it’s not something I admit often because it confuses people. I started chatting and asked if I could get a photo. They asked, “are you bi?” I blushed and said, “No, I’m asexual.” They both smiled and said, “that’s okay. You’re welcomed, everyone is welcomed into our group.” First time in a long time I could feel accepted as I am. So much love yesterday.
I added photos and the mementos to my Happiness Box as well. The parade made me so happy and the opportunity to connect with others, it just made me feel awesome. I was an ally in college and I found that once an ally, always an ally.
I was chatting with one of my library co-workers and she said, “I think you should create a book with your photos. I think the LGBT Community would be appreciative of it, especially since it is the 30th anniversary.” I think I will.
The Happiness Box Project 
Hi, Jessica Marie!
It does my heart good to see all these great pictures and all those smiling faces including yours. I salute you for attending Philadelphia’s Pride parade and for mixing and mingling as you did. It really does feel great when people accept you as you are and you do the same. When they said to you, “everyone is welcomed into our group,” they revealed the key to peace in our country and around the world. “Everyone is invited.” “Everyone is welcome.” If all groups of people adopted that philosophy, there would be no more hate and war. It is so simple, right there in front of our faces, and yet many are too blind to see.
Thank you, dear friend JM!
LikeLike
🙂
I encountered a Christian Taliban group yesterday protesting a Muslim festival. I quoted Bible passages about love and acceptance – Jesus was all about that and they just called me an ugly, Lesbian whore. Ironically, they are under investigation by the FBI, so they are just full of hate and can’t see the truth. It’s just sad when people are taught to hate and they teach their children to hate. I think that should be considered child abuse. It breaks my heart.
LikeLike