Oh, my Pride is showing

by Paula Sophia
Special Issues Columnist

By the time this is published I’ll be in Washington D.C. doing an internship with the National Center for Transgender Equality. I’m excited about being involved in the movement for transgender rights near the epicenter of activity. I’m proud to advocate for my trans brothers and sisters who have been so maligned and marginalized, who have been the subjects of cruel scrutiny and harsh rhetoric for decades.

Yes, I’m proud. I have pride in who I am.

According to religious teachings, pride is the original deadly sin, a sin that caused Eve and Adam to want to understand the mind of God, to discern good from evil. C.S. Lewis (Mr. Narnia himself) said pride is “the essential vice, the utmost evil, the complete anti-God state of mind,” a state of mind that justifies rebellion against virtue, against order, and against all that is good. Philosopher Jerome Neu says pride can overcome self-loathing and transform society. Pride is about self-respect, rights and dignity. A person with self-respect does not violate her conscience. Pride is inherent, not based upon merit.

Pride is a tricky thing. It is at once something necessary for the cultivation of self-esteem and sound mental health at the same time as being the foundation of hubris and excess. Pride can help a person develop the self-love needed to endure the consequences of hatred, misinformation, and vilification, and it can lead someone to believe he is better than others, more radiant, and more deserving.

It is worth reflecting upon the place of pride in our national character. Are we a nation that takes pride in who we are because we offer people the opportunity to become fully actualized human beings? Or, are we a nation that takes pride in our power, economic and military, imposing our will upon the weak, establishing and maintaining hierarchies that favor some people while marginalizing many others?

What does it mean to make America great again?

That is the essential question during this season of political engagement, a question that stirs great debate and a lot of turmoil. We are at a crossroads, a place where our decisions as a country will have great consequence. We are deciding who we are with every ballot cast, and the hinge-point of that decision should focus on what accomplishes the greatest amount of good for the most people possible.

Often, political campaigns are colluded with double meanings and subversive messages, things meant to divide people. As of late, the message du jour concerns transgender people. We are the focus of those who want to keep America divided so those in power can maintain a status quo built upon the kind of pride that imposes its will on people instead of upholding them in love and esteem.

This summer, when we march in Pride Parades, it is my hope we can do so as an expression of advancing opportunity and esteem to all people, as a rebellion against those political hacks who are in it for the glory rather than public service. I am proud to have the opportunity to help advance opportunities for transgender people, to help spread the message that all people have a right to be proud of who they are, to stand against the kind of pride that diminishes the inherent equality of all people.

Copyright 2016 The Gayly – June 9, 2016 @ 1:45 p.m.