The lack of understanding in cishets as to why we need pride flags is staggering. I literally had someone say, "I drink too much. You don't see me going to a church with a martini flag." It's because, for a trans queer like me, the assumption is that most people would rather I not be in public space. It may not be the case, but I need to treat a gun like it's loaded. All it takes is one bigot to ruin my day, or worse. I don't think I could go into a church without running a risk, and I sure as hell ain't going near one that doesn't have a pride flag.
The pride flag is not just a sign of I'm proud of who I am. It is a sign that I am welcome here. It is a sign I can exist in the space without the threat of violence or harassment. It is a sign of community. A sign that there are people out there like me. It is a sign of being seen, safety, and belonging.
We deserve that.
