Pride in Pride
Pride in Community. Pride in Creativity.
Happy July, everyone!
I hope you enjoyed Pride Month. I love Pride both for what it stands for and because of how colorful it is. Pride fills our world with vibrancy and reminds us that we all deserve to love and be loved.
This past Sunday, I attended the Denver Pride Parade and had a blast cheering on the walkers, musicians, decorated vehicles, and floats. Color was everywhere, smiles were genuine, swag was handed out, and the mood was accepting and upbeat.
Yesterday, the New York Times Morning Edition lead off with an article about the nationwide decline in corporate sponsorship of Pride. If that’s true in other communities, it makes me frustrated and sad for them. But I didn’t see it here. The Denver Pride Parade was filled with participants from local and national companies, from airlines and banks to a kids’ gymnastics facility to a pub crawl bike tour.
I found the opening line of Monday’s Times article intriguing
“Years ago, companies practically tripped over each other to show support for Pride Month, Black Lives Matter and other political causes.”
What I find interesting is the term “political causes” used to describe Pride Month and Black Lives Matter. Whether it’s skin color, who sleeps with who, what country someone was born in, what religious affiliation they do or do not have, what ways they modify their bodies to suit who they are internally, or anything else—these identities should not have to be “political.”
But they are. Of course they are.
I realize that as a cis, straight, able-bodied white woman, I’m more easily able to say “why is this political?” than are the millions in this country who are persecuted solely for their identities. I’m female and no spring chicken—and sexism and ageism are real—nonetheless, I recognize my mama-bear-sized privilege.
For that reason, I’ll continue to support politicians who work to protect the rights of everyone in this country. And I’m committed to doing what I can to remove from office those who do not believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every human being.
What Does This Have to Do with Creativity?
A valid question. The focus of The What If Journal is creativity and the ever-changing answer to the question, “What if…?”
What does that have to do with politics or identities?
When my first novel, The Bookseller, came out in 2015—and for some years afterward—my answer would’ve been, “Very little.” The book explored issues around women’s lives and work from a historical perspective, but I took no public political stance and kept my social media deliberately neutral.
I remember my sister, at the time, saying to me, “You’re making a name for yourself. You can use your platform to take a stand.” She was right, but I murmured a noncommittal response and moved on.
Why? Because back then, I was terrified of what people might think of me. I worried about my brand-new reputation as a published author being shattered if I “took sides.” I worried about being ridiculed on social media.
But I continued writing fiction about how women’s identities determine what is and isn’t permitted for them in our society. The entire premise of my second novel, The Glass Forest, is exactly that, packaged in a historical mystery about a missing woman.
But I didn’t talk about it this way. I wasn’t being “political.”
Except I was. I simply wasn’t saying so aloud.
Now—a few years later—we’ve watched millions on the right, both politicians and everyday folks, get bolder in statement and action. Meanwhile, many of us on the left, including me, remained mostly silent.
That can no longer happen. If we want our country back, then we, too, have to take a stand.
As a creative, I know this costs me followers. I’ve seen snarky comments directed my way online. For every Substack I publish, I lose subscribers. Maybe I’m not interesting to some of them—or maybe I’m “too political.”
It doesn’t matter. I’m here for those for whom my words resonate. If that’s you, thank you and welcome. If it’s not, I wish you well. Namaste.
The stories I’m currently working on take this approach. Like most of my work, they’re historical and focus on women’s lives. I’m finding there’s little market out there for short historical fiction—which is unfortunate, because I enjoy the form, believe we have much to learn from history, and love using story to explore it.
So, I’ll keep making art that speaks to my soul, and hopefully speaks to the souls of others. Here in The What If Journal, I’ll continue asking the question, “What if…?”
What if we speak, and create, using our authentic voices?
What if…?
What If We Read? What If We Walk?
I’ve been in a bit of a reading rut lately, but I recently discovered a book to pull me out of it. Recommended by a member of my Tuesday morning writing group, Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney is a novel inspired by the life of poet and advertising pioneer Margaret Fishback. An advertising copywriter for Macy’s, Fishback was, during the 1930s, reputedly the highest-paid female advertising copywriter in the world. Oh, and in her spare time, she published poetry collections and other books.
In the novel, it’s New Year’s Eve 1984 and Lillian, modeled on Margaret, spends the evening walking 10 miles around the city she’s lived in for nearly 60 years. The book is a love letter to New York City and the 20th century—and as someone who grew up in the New York area in the ‘70s and ‘80s and spent plenty of time in the City, I was all in.
I love how the novel emphasizes the power of walking to truly experience a place. Whenever we travel, our favorite thing to do is walk.
What have you read lately and loved? Hit me up with your reco’s!
Find Your Voice. Find Your Pride.
If you’re creating, I’m proud of you. If you’re reading, I’m proud of you.
If you’re bravely being who you are, despite what anyone says and what threats you might face—I’m incredibly proud of you, and I will do everything in my power to ensure your wellbeing.
Let’s take care of each other, our communities, and our world.
Let’s go for a walk.
Thank you so much for posting this! I've had the same hesitation to comment on the terrible recent events, fearing I'd alienate some people who've supported my writing. Finally, though, I decided I couldn't stay on the fence. Your blog helped me continue to support what really matters in our country.
I'm glad you speak up. And it's nice that Pride is still going strong in some cities. it's getting scary out there.