2020 pride speech

I don’t want to speak for others, so I will speak for myself.

Why do I want to be visible?

I could live quietly. I could try to assimilate into broader society. I could speak about my orientation behind closed doors only. I could perform as a heterosexual; love women in public, men and people of other genders in private. I could stay in line, stop showing off^*, because no one cares what I do in the bedroom, right?

So then why, despite all that, am I standing here and screaming – I am gay, I am queer, I am bisexual? Why am I risking my health and peace to declare that I am a man who loves men? Why am I showing off?

I will admit, this is not a comfortable situation for me. I am not used to talking about myself in public. I know very well that the majority opinion towards people such as myself is far from positive. I am not ecstatic at the thought of being beaten or spat on in a residential neighbourhood. Such attention does not appeal to me.

However, I am still here, because I am gay, I am queer, I am bisexual, and I am sick of being visible only in newspage comments sections. I am sick of being visible only then, when politicians exploit my identity for their own popularity. I am sick of being visible only then, when corporations slap a rainbow flag on their logos, all the while paying their LGBTQ+ and other employees minimum wage, and refusing to employ trans people in the first place.

I don’t want to wait in peace and quiet until government officials decide that the country is finally ready, and grant me the right to marry and the right to adopt. The fact that I can go to a store and buy a t-shirt or badge with a rainbow flag doesn’t mean that I am free.

I am a queer person, a misfit, who is showing himself off at the capital centre. I am different, and this does not humiliate me.

I do not need your tolerance, granted to me only when I am comfortable to you. Such conditional tolerance is nothing but an act, put on by people who wish to seem progressive while doing nothing. I do not need courtesy, I need rights.

Social progress doesn’t occur on its own, these rights will not fall from the heavens, they will not be granted by asking nicely. For my rights I have to fight, and in this fight my weapon is my body and my voice. Just like all people, I am propaganda.

Because of this, it is not enough for me to be seen once every three years^**. It is not enough for me to be seen once a year. Until I have my fundamental rights, I want to protest every day. I will celebrate when there’s something to celebrate.

Of course, visibility only will not ensure the liberty, equality and safety of every member of the LGBTQ+ community. The fact that I can stand here and show off doesn’t mean that it’s safe for everyone. Visibility might put the most vulnerable members of the community in danger. This is why showing off is not an obligation – each one of us has to take care of our safety.

To me, showing off is a political protest against a society chock-full of people who would prefer if I didn’t exist. I am gay, I am queer, I am bisexual, and I am proud. This is why today I’m showing off. This is why today I am visible.

^* In this text, showing off could also be literally translated as demonstrating myself. Locally, the phrase why are they demonstrating themselves? is used similarly to the anglo phrase why are they shoving this down our throats? RE: homophobes talking about queer people.

^** In reference to the corporate Baltic Pride, which takes place in the country every three years.