San Francisco Values
I understand that the term "San Francisco Values" is still a pejorative term in some parts of the United States. I was thinking about this on Sunday night, as I was picking up my in-laws at the train station. John & Lianne were coming home from a vacation in France. They took the train from the airport to our sleepy suburb 50 miles to the east.
Their train ride coincided with the end of Pride festivities in San Francisco. As Lisa and I waited, we saw crowds of colorful people coming off the train and dispersing to parts farther east. Watching these folks walk past, I reflected that, thirty years ago, these festivities were pretty much limited to San Francisco proper. 30 years ago all my gay friends were still keeping their secrets (at least, from me anyway.) Now, gay, lesbian, trans, queer, poly, on and on, it's all out in the open, familiar to the point of being ordinary.
Last weekend, we were celebrating pride in our diversity; we were celebrating our friends and family members who can be themselves without fear of reprisal or harassment. Pride parades were happening in major cities across the world; even in our sheltered little suburb, people were celebrating. These aren't just San Francisco Values anymore. These are American Values. These are World Values.
Their train ride coincided with the end of Pride festivities in San Francisco. As Lisa and I waited, we saw crowds of colorful people coming off the train and dispersing to parts farther east. Watching these folks walk past, I reflected that, thirty years ago, these festivities were pretty much limited to San Francisco proper. 30 years ago all my gay friends were still keeping their secrets (at least, from me anyway.) Now, gay, lesbian, trans, queer, poly, on and on, it's all out in the open, familiar to the point of being ordinary.
Last weekend, we were celebrating pride in our diversity; we were celebrating our friends and family members who can be themselves without fear of reprisal or harassment. Pride parades were happening in major cities across the world; even in our sheltered little suburb, people were celebrating. These aren't just San Francisco Values anymore. These are American Values. These are World Values.
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