Recently, I had a conversation with my father that really left me thinking about how our older generations views our rainbow community.

It was the night after the election results were called. my house was full of friends and family. Amongst those fine folks were many L’nu, some settlers and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

The day after, my dad popped in to debrief and we had our usual tea and game of crib.  As we chatted, he very casually said, “you had all sorts here last night my girl”. I paused for a moment and considered what my father was trying to tell me. He was processing a scenario he had rarely or maybe never had seen in his upbringing, a gathering of individuals that were open and proud of who they were, a mix of Mi’kmaq, settler, queer, and trans. I responded to my father saying, “Isn’t it amazing dad? Everyone living out loud with no shame”, he responded, “yes my girl, it is”.

This wasn’t a long conversation, but it said a lot.

My dad was trying to find his way to articulate things he grew up being told were wrong. He was realizing that times were finally changing. Seeing that kind of growth and reflection from my father at his age was comforting. My children’s grandparents have lived through times of harsh discrimination, segregation and oppression but now feel safe to talk and live out loud and to support others that do the same.

I have seen friends and family face fears to live their lives as their true selves. They’ve risked losing loved ones, their jobs and everything they know because they were dying inside going through life pretending to be someone they’re not. They’ve come out of closets, endured painful surgeries and just taken that first step into ceremony wondering if they’d be accepted, loved, and supported or if they’d lose it all.

It takes courage each day to be our authentic selves and to live a life of acceptance, respect and love for one another.  Today’s society might be more progressive than when my father was younger, but we still have so far to go.

Love is what we all have in common, we all feel it, we all need it. During this month, which we know as Pride month and as we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, let us remember; regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or cultural background, love IS love.