Is your love conditional or unconditional?

Last year I watched a show called "Pose." In Season 1, Episode 1, I watched an all too familiar scene.??

Damon is a 17-year-old dancer who is full of life and is taking a ballet class. He exudes much joy while dancing. On his way home, he rides the bus with hopes and dreams of becoming a dancer reflected on his young face.??

When he arrives home, Damon goes to his room, excited to put a cassette tape in his boom box, and starts dancing. Suddenly, his father comes home abruptly, hears loud music, and storms into Damon's room, accusing Damon of blasting loud music. His father starts questioning Damon about his whereabouts. Damon lies and says that he was at school. His father responds by saying that he went to have a drink with the boys, and they were having a good laugh. One of his friends saw Damon coming out of the ballet class, and they were laughing at Damon.?

The next scene gets ugly. Damon's father says he told his friends, "not my son." Damon tries to explain. His father then pulls out a magazine showing a male model with the title 'Ten Hot Men' on the cover. "How do you explain this? Found it under your bed. I told your mother he's going to grow up a sissy. I tried to toughen you up, but she kept saying creatives need space to explore. Speak up!"??

Damon says, "I'm a dancer and I'm gay."

The exchange gets worst with the father beating Damon. Damon's mother arrives home and intervenes in the fight. The father physically throws Damon out of the house. Damon's mother then goes outside with Damon's backpack and the magazine and slaps Damon. She says, "I went against your father's word. Supported your creativity, and you bring filth into my home! You know the Bible condemns homosexuality, and God will punish you by giving you that disease."?

She then tries to coerce Damon to go to church, ask for forgiveness and never engage in vile behavior. Damon says, "I'm not a sinner," but does not agree to her demands, so she throws his coat and backpack at him and banishes Damon from his own home.

'Pose' is a great show set in the 1980s during the AIDS epidemic, which tells the stories of the lives of many LGBTQIA+ individuals. There are many happy and sad moments. It's upbeat and highlights the resiliency and challenges of the queer community.???

I can't imagine banishing a loved one simply because they don't live according to my beliefs. Those scenes I described above are full of conditional love. Unfortunately, that happens in real life, which is heartbreaking.??

Unconditional love is accepting people as they are. You may not like, understand or agree with their choices, but you love them and make the best of the situation. Life is way too short to be angry at someone for being queer. All human beings want to belong, and it's up to you to accept your loved ones as they are.??

Over the last few years, I have learned so much about the LGBTQIA+ community because people close to me are part of it, and I want to understand and support them.?

When you think about your family and friends, is your love conditional or unconditional? That is certainly a question to ponder.

As an ally, I wanted to understand what Pride Month represented and the difference between Pride Month and LGBTQIA+ History Month. I wanted to share what I discovered.??

First,?LGBTQIA+ ? stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual/Aromantic/Agender, and the plus is meant to cover anyone else not included in the preceding letters. To simplify things, many people use the term "queer" instead of the LGBTQIA+ acronym to be more inclusive. Additionally, this acronym is constantly evolving.??

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month ?occurs in June in the United States and commemorates the Stonewall riots that transpired in June 1969. Pride month is about uplifting, celebrating, and supporting the Queer community. The Stonewall Riots began on June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in NYC. The raid led to six days of protests and violent clashes with police outside the bar. This event catalyzed the gay rights movement. In 2016, Barack Obama designated the Stonewall Inn as a national monument to recognize the area's contribution to gay rights.?

LGBTQIA+ History Month ?occurs in October, and it is the observance of the history of gay rights and related civil rights movements. It is celebrated in the US and Canada in October to coincide with National Coming Out Day on October 11. Rodney Wilson, a history teacher at a Missouri High School, created the observance in 1994. It also coincided with the first march for gay rights in October 1979. Many organizations take the opportunity to educate people about the LGBTQIA+ history every October.

Simply knowing the LGBTQIA+ acronym and the difference between Pride Month and LGBTQIA+ History Month already makes you a more informed person and hopefully a better ally.??

My wish for humanity is to see each other as human beings and be loving and accepting of all so that we may leave this world a better place than when we found it.

I am not an expert on this topic, but I am an ally willing to learn. If you have anything to add to this topic, please comment.??

Remember,?

Be Brave. Be Bold. Take Action!