THIS IS THE WAY

LEFT

Local developer flies Chicago’s largest progress pride flag | GoPride.com

I don’t believe I know how to go about writing this next column, which if this is the case it’s already a bad way to start. But I digress, let’s go for it together. With the month of June underway we enter one of my favorite times of the year, Gay Pride Month. The thing is, people like to keep things with themes and with this I’m expected to write about Gay Pride. I don’t know if I can properly give it the justice and attention it deserves. I’ve never experienced the struggles and hardships that the LGBTQIA+ community has to undergo in this country and the world. I know of the problems but I can’t say I can feel what they feel of what it’s like to be persecuted and live in fear of hate and intolerance. But I most definitely understand it. I think what’s stuck up my ass at the moment is the need to force myself to write something about it, just to keep the theme of these monthly articles going. Keeping a theme and following a routine is something that’s always felt dangerous to me. Getting stuck in the same habits and schedules we get comfortable with just to get by another day. Do we do it because it’s expected of us, not only from others but ourselves? That may be, but what if it’s something worse, what if it’s something we aren’t aware of? What if we’re just stuck? If that’s the case, something needs to change. Stoicism suggests that the obstacle is the way (Mandolorian theme plays in the background). This goes to say, what stands in the way becomes the way (thank you @daily_stoic on IG and tiktok for that beautiful fruit of wisdom that found me at the right time). Whatever is on our path creating this mental block, congested with repetitive outcomes is not necessarily bad. Bad things will always happen but it’s learning how to use these things to further better ourselves and the situations we find ourselves in. I’ve heard from friends that for a long time they didn’t accept themselves due to the fear that others wouldn’t either. This made it impossible for them to come out and start living their lives. The doors to an honest freeing life were there and in eyesight but were shackled with chains of ignorance and prejudice, guarded by a hell hound named Fear. This got me thinking that’s precisely what routine is; it’s fear. It’s being comfortable on the severely beaten path, it’s believing that if you don’t make waves you won’t have to struggle to swim. I think this goes against human nature, if something isn’t working we don’t leave it alone and continue to walk around with rocks in our shoes. We shake out the problems, we invent the wheel, and cook with fire.

On June 28th, 1969 The Stonewall Riots took place outside the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the Greenwhich Village area of New York City. Please tell me this is being taught and still is being taught in school because I’m embarrassed to say it wasn’t taught to me till much later in life. This movement began after a police raid that took place at the Inn, and would ultimately be the straw that broke the camel’s back. The employees, frequent patrons and passerby civilians stood their ground and had

enough. All the hate and bigotry had put the people of this neighborhood (and others) at their wits end and fought back when the police would not give up on their discrimination and harassment. I have to imagine that the people back then in the gay community complied for too long and allowed themselves to accept that this is just how things are going to be. That is until a switch was flipped, one that recognized, wait this shouldn’t be normal, and no one should have to live in fear. For decades in this country the gay community had been subjected to anti gay-laws but it’s because of the heroes of the civil rights movement and progressive forward thinking regions around the country that movements like the Stonewall Riots could even occur. If it had not been for these forward thinkers and routine breakers, we may not have these celebrations of equality and freedom that we so fortunately have the right to express today. Things aren’t perfect but the progress we’ve seen throughout the years is beautiful and promising for even better years to come.

They stood up and broke routine. Those brave souls saw that the system was keeping them in line and in fear and they changed their reaction. So I say this; break the routines that keep you in place; break the routines that yourself and others have placed for you to keep you down. Step out into the light and do what scares you. Be brave enough to challenge the manufactured normalcy that the powers that be have boxed you into. Be strong enough to be scared and make change.

Maybe in my case it isn’t routine after all. That could very well be what my routine is, just being defiant and not willing to change. Perhaps I have to start challenging myself and start doing things that make me uncomfortable the way I once did as a fearless kid. Break the routings that have you depressed and bored. Walk down that proverbial unbeaten path to make a change in the world and in your life, that’ll surely inspire others to do the same.

It’s been a hell of a year so far but as I keep saying it looks like things are shaping up. Summer is just around the corner and we all have a lot to look forward to. On behalf of ROC, we’d like to thank you all again, for all the love and support we’ve received since the release of our first issue. We will do our best to continue to bring and share all the wonderful stories, music and art this city has to offer. We would love to wish you all a very Happy Pride Month! Be safe, have fun and look out for one another. Meow meow.

WRITTEN BY ROB KATT PHOTOGRAPHY BY STERLING BAY