No, it’s not yet June with its
clammy hot weather and the Pride parade and festival just around the
corner. Instead, it’s January—in the
dead of winter but it feels like Pride has arrived already.
As the clock ticked past
midnight on New Year’s Eve into 2013, we celebrated scores of gay and lesbian
weddings that were made legal by Maryland’s voters selecting love over bigotry.
There was a sweeping amount of pride by
those in the LGBT community who although they may not have yet participated in
this momentous life-changing development, saw it as a victory for Maryland’s
gay and lesbian families after years of hard work and near-misses.
While these nuptials and
engagements were taking place during and after January 1, our community became ecstatic
over the playoff run by our hometown darlings of the gridiron, the Baltimore
Ravens. First, the methodical
dispatching of the Indianapolis Colts 24-9 at M&T Bank Stadium sent the
Ravens to the next round. They were
inspired by the announced retirement of Ray Lewis.
A week later, following a
stunning overtime thriller over the much-favored Denver Broncos on the frigid
turf of Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Baltimore began getting its purple
on in earnest. Enthusiasm that had been
dormant earlier in the season, sprung loose as soon as mighty Joe Flacco’s
miracle pass to Jacoby Jones in the game’s last 30 seconds tied the score that
was eventually won by a Justin Tucker field goal moments into the second
overtime period.
Next on tap was a rematch with
the dreaded New England Patriots and Tom Brady on January 20. As Ravens fans well remember, a year ago at
Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, the Ravens were a TD catch in the final seconds from
winning the AFC Conference championship, but the ball was stripped away from
then Ravens receiver Lee Evans. Seconds
later a botched field goal try by Billy Cundiff sealed the fate as Baltimore,
who outplayed the Pats, left in defeat.
It was a bitter setback.
They were on a mission, and
after a rather sleepy first half trailing 13-7, the purple giant awoke. Reeling off 21 unanswered points led by a
stingy defense and another sterling performance by Flacco and his offense, the
Ravens prevailed 28-13, and off to the Super Bowl we go!
With just a night’s sleep to
savor this unlikely season and a momentous January so far, we saw history made
at the second inauguration of President Barack Obama merely 15 hours
later. There was an abundance of pride
as the first African-American president who proved it was no fluke with his
reelection, took the oath of office for his second term on Martin Luther King
Day no less.
Then his inaugural address
brought more pride in January. For the
first time in history, a U.S. president included references to LGBT equality
and gay rights in an inaugural speech. He mentioned Stonewall, Seneca Falls and Selma
in the same sentence, equating gay rights with women’s rights and civil rights
for African-Americans. That is a huge
step forward and a source of deep pride in reflecting upon the decades of
struggles that led to this point.
“We, the people, declare today
that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the
star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca
Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women,
sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher
say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual
freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth,” he said.
These words were beautiful to
listen to and a validation of our cause.
As he had demonstrated time and time again in his first term, President
Obama has been a consistent ally for LGBT rights and a source of pride. From the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate
Crimes Prevention Act to the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ to his
endorsement of marriage equality to appointing more openly LGBT officials than
any other president, Mr. Obama has given our movement a dynamic push, while our
country is coming along faster than anyone expected.
These
were incredible events that have galvanized our community and allies. Sure, football is just a game played by rich
men for even richer owners. So
what? Civic pride is an effective and
welcome antidote to the day-to-day problems that beset us. It is also inspiring. The Ravens are underdogs who show us that
with hard work anyone could overcome adversity and succeed.
Barack
Obama was also an underdog with an unconventional family and childhood. Look what he had to overcome. And look what he is accomplishing for “our
gay brothers and sisters.”
Equality
pride, purple pride and presidential pride.
They’re not related but connected nonetheless. A prideful January to be sure.
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