Pride

“Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us.” - Jane Austen, British Author.

Most know that June is recognized as Pride Month in the US and many other countries. June was chosen to celebrate LGBTQA+ individuals because the Stonewall Riots, which started the Gay Rights movement, occurred at the end of June 1969. 

 

Pride Month is closely connected to the Dark Pagan principles of Self-knowledge, Self-Acceptance, and Autonomy.

Thousands of years ago, etched into the walls of the Temple of Delphi in Greece were the words “Know Thyself.” It is with this ancient Pagan wisdom that Pride begins. Understanding one’s identity, both gender and sexual, is an essential part of self-knowledge. 

It’s well established that some people’s hatred of LGBTQA+ individuals arises from subconscious gender and sexual identity issues. While this isn’t true for all who express such hatred (for some, it’s just a character flaw), this lack of self-knowledge is the source of anger for many.

Building on Self-knowledge, Self-acceptance is the next critical element of Pride. Once a person understands themselves, the next step is to accept themselves. Self-love rests at the heart of self-acceptance. 

However, there are forces in our society that teach against self-love. Many religious institutions tell us that we’re fallen and need salvation. This self-hatred often is turned outwards, creating Others who are seen as different and dangerous.

The final Dark Pagan principle that applies to Pride is Autonomy. The Stonewall Riot was an example of courageous individuals who confronted institutional homophobia and bigotry. It was a declaration of autonomy that they wouldn’t cave into the demands of the herd.

Ironically, the homophobic and transphobic voices of today often wrap their opposition to autonomy into claims of personal liberty. In an example of Orwellian thought, they twist laws meant to remove the rights of LGBTQA+ persons as being to enhance freedom.  

Pride is a Dark Pagan value.

Autonomy: LGBTQA+ Issues

 This post is the second part on the topic of autonomy.

“Gender is between your ears and not between your legs.” - Chaz Bono

Before diving in, I must clarify how autonomy relates to Dark Paganism. Dark Paganism’s focus is on honoring and cultivating the Self. Since autonomy is a characteristic of the Self, it’s vital that we understand autonomy and what supports or restricts it.

 Gender Identity and Transgender Rights

We all know the nursery rhyme. Little boys are made of snips, snails, and puppy-dog tails, while little girls are made of sugar, spice, and everything nice. The root of this nursery rhyme is the mistaken belief that gender is binary, with male and female being the only options. This binary view is based on the assumption that gender is determined by anatomy. It holds that male genitalia equates to the male gender while female genitalia equates to the female gender.      

Reality is much more complex. It’s now understood that each person has a gender identity based on how they feel and who they know themself to be. Sometimes the gender identity matches their anatomy, but not always. Gender identities include the classic male and female (‘cis-gender’) along with transgender, gender-neutral, non-binary, agender, pangender, genderqueer, two-spirit, third gender, and all, none, or a combination of these.

Sexual Orientation

We shouldn’t confuse sexual orientation with gender identity. While gender identity is about how someone knows themselves or how they feel, sexual orientation is about who you’re attracted to and to whom you want to have a relationship. Sexual orientations include gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, demisexual, pansexual, and asexual.

Similar to the mistake that gender is binary, a mistaken belief is that sexual orientation is binary. In this error, it’s thought that men are naturally attracted to women, and women are naturally attracted to men. Anything else is thought to be aberrant and unnatural. A more progressive belief holds that a person is either gay or straight. However, this is still erroneous, for it’s still binary thinking. It’s now understood that sexual orientation is a spectrum, not a binary state.

The Question: Is There Harm? 

The critical issue here is whether there is harm to others if someone identifies and expresses themselves as other than cisgender or as something other than heterosexual. 

The answer is simple. No, there is no harm.

Critics try to generate controversy and claims of harm where none exists. Usually, these arguments are wrapped in religious language (“God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”) while others manufacture non-existent victims. Critics claim that allowing children to know about transgender issues and different sexual orientations somehow causes them harm. Or that women are somehow harmed by trans-inclusive language. And allowing people to use public restrooms based on identity rather than birth certificate somehow poses a danger of predators, they claim.

However, under close examination, all of these claims of harm fall apart. The religious argument is irrelevant, of course, in the modern secular society. Plus, this knowledge does not harm children. Nor or women’s rights harmed by trans-inclusive language. And transgender using public restrooms based on identity threatens no one.

Is there harm to the individual if the State restricts the expression of gender identity or sexual preference? There’s a lot of evidence that those individuals are harmed. Violence against the LGBTQA+ community is substantially higher than against the cisgender/straight. Workplace discrimination is much higher, as well. And suicide rates among transgender youth are at a shocking rate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no harm to society by allowing the LGBTQA+ members of society to live their lives as they deem fit. However, there is significant harm done to the individuals when the State tries to regulate and restrict in these cases.