The Chicago Pride Parade provides outstanding opportunities to demonstrate that all people want more than anything to feel valued. After air, water, food, and similar life requirements, life's operative concept is to feel valued.
The parade and the sexual-orientation issues associated with it have countless supporters and detractors. Regardless, everyone should have a chance to be who they wish to be, even though we know that simply presenting oneself in any way can touch off in others a response that can often be negative, unpleasant, and occasionally even cruel.
In our challenged world, perhaps we may yet be able to salvageeven reclaimsome of the stature that we have lost.
LGBTQ matters are but one element in our planetary mess. Nevertheless, perhaps they can serve as a catalyst to get people everywhere to realize that we are all in this world together, but briefly. Let us act in a way that makes us proud.
Today, the issues may be related to sexual orientation. Tomorrow, who knows what will be humankind's hurdle? Perhaps it'll be climateanother great homogenizer. Let us celebrate and embrace the paramount goal of helping everyone to feel significant. Then we can all be proud.
Leon J. Hoffman, Ph.D.
Chicago