By Kristin Winford and the Reno Friends First Day School Students
Please join the First Day School and Reno Friends to march together in the Northern Nevada Pride Parade, Sat. Sept. 6. We will gather at the Meeting House at 8:00 a.m.; the parade starts at 10 am at California Avenue between Arlington Avenue and Virginia Street.
Friends, what does Pride mean to you?
I asked this question to each child and teen in the Reno Friends First Day School (FDS) on a recent Sunday morning. They were busy drawing flags for the upcoming Northern Nevada Pride Parade. The FDS, along with the Reno Friends’ Peace and Social Concerns Committee, is leading an effort to get Reno Friends out for the Pride Parade on Sept. 6.
As I interviewed each child and teen, I was impressed by the depth of understanding, honest expression of feelings, and beautiful clarity of each response. Here are some of their comments:
I feel like pride means being prideful of how far we’ve come and how expressive people have become as far as their gender and sexual identity.
To show who you are. Confidence. Being yourself.
Being proud of who you are and being proud of your differences and how that makes you the person that you are.
(Pride means that) I’m proud of something, I’m proud I have a great mom and a great dad. I’m proud that I have a great family.
Pride means that you are proud to be who you are without other people acting like you are different.
At first, I didn’t really know what you call people that express themselves in a different way. Now I think it’s just a way. Like going to a pride parade, I feel like people can be anything.
Not only did the children and teens understand Pride, but also why it is important to take action for equal rights. The FDS curriculum is guided by the Quaker testimonies (Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality and Stewardship), often summarized as SPICES. The E is for Equality/Equity.
I also asked the students another question: “Why do you want to make this drawing and/or march in the Pride Parade?”
Because LGBTQ-IA/Third Spirit (people) can have a really hard time and they are very vulnerable to being bullied so I think it feels good to support them when it doesn’t seem like many people care about them.
I am helping with this project to support them and their rights.
Because I think that’s going to help people. Because my mom told me in the past that a long time ago that people can’t love, girlfriends can’t have girlfriends and boyfriends can’t have boyfriends and I don’t think that’s fair. I think it’s fine you can love whoever you want.
I want to show that I’m proud of supporting LGBTQ+.
I feel like I did my drawing because I like doing art and I want to march in the parade because it’s a big part of our culture now and I’d like to become a part of it and a part of the community.
I want to march in the parade because it’s cool that people do, and you don’t want other people to take that away from them.
I’d like to thank the students of our First Day School for sharing their thoughts and feelings on Pride and Equality/Equity. I am honored to support this action led by children and teens who can teach us so much, and guide us in a clear path to equity.
Friends, I am led to march this September to support my family and friends in the LGBTQ community. I am proud of my LGBTQ family and friends, and I recognize the hard road they have walked. I am saddened by mistreatment and loss of rights in the past few months. It is time for me to take action in support of those I love. I’d like to show them that I’m not just sitting on the sidelines, but I’m with them in active support. I am honored to join the FDS and PSC in marching together as Reno Friends in the Northern Nevada Pride Parade.
Please join us September 6, at 10:00AM. The march is on California Avenue, between Arlington Avenue and Virginia Street. Let’s come together as the Reno Friends community and demonstrate our Pride!
By Kristin Winford, Blog Contributor, Reno Friends Meeting
The opinions expressed above are not necessarily those of Reno Friends Meeting.