June is Pride Month. Specifically, June 28 is Pride Day. I would be remiss if I didn’t in some way acknowledge these months. For some, this post may seem unnecessary or as “Duh!” However, let me briefly explain why I’m writing it.

In 2020 when the world broke, many terrible things occurred. However, personally, I found a silver lining in all of it. It humbled me and allowed me to grow as a person. My eyes widened, and I found compassion in places I did not know existed. I also engaged in a lot of streaming, and it was this streaming that I discovered something that caused me to pause in my steps. As a writer, there are always discussions about pushing limits. Now, the next few statements are not made to point fingers, climb on any political or social agenda soapbox, shame, slight, or belittle anyone. I’m not about that life. Everyone is entitled to his opinion whether right, wrong, or indifferent. And I’m not one who decides what is right or wrong. I’m simply outlining the events that happened.

There is a saying in the writing community that authors should only write what they know. This view in its strictest sense means men cannot write female characters and women cannot write male characters. Additionally, it suggests that writers are only allowed to write characters of the same race, nationality, ethnicity, culture, religion, and sexual orientation. Following such strict guidelines would gravely limit the types of characters and books authors create. The argument is that a person who is not of the same group/community cannot accurately or intelligently discuss, depict, or communicate the group/community in question. And here is where the issue became super complicated.

In one of the series I was viewing during that time, a character of a marginalized group expressed that it was not his place to educate others about his community and, if people wanted to know, they would learn for themselves. However, when people began to ask questions to educate themselves, they were accused of being rude, nosy, and offensive. So, when these same people took to the internet for answers and received misinformation, they were chastised for not knowing better. My question was then, how can one adequately become educated if no one is willing to teach and discussions can’t be had? Attitudes of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” have benefits but also drawbacks. In many ways, it is like walking on eggshells.

At a former job, there was a rule that if the institution paid for an employee to attend a professional conference or workshop, the employee would have to give a brief summary presentation to coworkers who didn’t attend. Not only did I think this was a fair rule, but I also enjoyed it because it encouraged the spread of information. Why bottle up education and restrict it from anyone wanting to learn?

In my novels, I attempt to include diversity in my characters. I also heavily research any unfamiliar topics. My blog (Creole Bayou) is 98% researched based. (I do occasionally write an opinion piece which I always clearly indicate.) So, as I was sitting pondering what to write, I saw a post on Twitter that included the acronym 2SLGBTQIA+. I admit, I didn’t know what the 2S stood for. Later the same day, someone asked me what the Q and the I in LGBTQIA meant. Now, before the pandemic, if someone had said they didn’t know what the Q and I stood for in LGBTQIA, I would have given them the side eye for not knowing. I would have thought, “How could you not know? It’s all over the place.” However, we all have different lives and experiences. We all have different experiences and levels of exposure. Just like I assumed everyone would know what the Q and I meant, there are people who would think I should know what 2S meant. Thus, that is what has led me to this post. I thought why not share what someone would assume to be common knowledge but that may not be for everyone?

1. What is the acronym 2SLGBTQIA+?

• Lesbian
• Gay
• Bisexual
• Transgender
• Queer and/or Questioning
• Intersex (a concept that exists not in objective reality but has been created and accepted by the people in a society that reflects a variation in sex characteristics including chromosomes, genitals, and/or gonads that do not appear to fit into conventional definitions of male or female)
• Asexual/Ace (may not experience sexual attraction to anyone or has a low or absent interest in sexual activity) *NOTE: Some people consider the A to represent Ally (a heterosexual person who supports the LGBTQ+ community)
• + reflects the countless affirmative ways in which people choose to identify (e.g., aceflux, akiosexual, aromantic, demisexual, graysexual, pansexual, reciprosexual, etc.)
• 2S – Two-Spirit (a term used by some Indigenous people to describe the behavior or gender expression of persons who do not match masculine or feminine gender norms in their communities.)

2. What do the colors of the rainbow flag mean?

• Red – Life
• Orange – Healing
• Yellow – Sunlight
• Green – Nature
• Blue – Peace or serenity
• Purple – Spirit

Note: The original rainbow Pride Flag had eight stripes: Hot pink (Sex), Red (Life), Orange (Healing), Yellow (Sunlight), Green (Nature), Turquoise (Magic and Art), Indigo: (Serenity), and Purple (Spirit). There are over 50 Pride flags recognized by the LGBTQIA+ community. Some of these additional flags are the abrosexual flag, Androgyne flag, Bigender flag (which is a separate flag from the Bisexual flag), Drag Feather flag, Gay Bear Brotherhood, and Maverique flag to name a few.

3. Why was June selected to be Pride Month?

First, it should be noted that June is Pride Month in the United States. Some other countries that celebrate Pride do so in different months. For example, Amsterdam celebrates in August and Great Britain in July. Pride is celebrated in the U.S. to commemorate the Stonewall riots in New York that began on June 28, 1969.

The riots were sparked when plainclothes NYPD officers raided a gay nightclub named the Stonewall Inn and located in Greenwich Village. Reportedly, police raided the nightclub to investigate the illegal sale of alcohol. Allegedly, the club was owned and operated by the mafia. There is some disagreement about whether or not the police had a search warrant. However, the events of June 28 should be framed with some context.

Four days earlier, on June 24, the police had raided the club. During the June 24 raid, police confiscated alcohol and arrested employees. Patrons insist that the raid wasn’t due to the illegal sale of alcohol but, rather, was targeted because it was a gay nightclub. When the police raided on June 28, they reportedly ordered approximately 200 patrons to stand in a line and produce identification. Additionally, some patrons were instructed to submit to anatomical inspections. Police arrested employees and transgender persons, and people dressed in drag. At the time “masquerading” as a member of the opposite sex was a crime in New York. The persons being arrested were marched out of the club to police vans where a crowd of onlookers from the club and neighborhood had gathered on the sidewalk. The scene turned violent after a woman dressed in masculine attire was assaulted by police. As the situation grew out of control, the police were forced to retreat and consequently barricaded themselves in the club. The rioters broke the doors down using street meters. The Tactical Patrol Force (TPF) a.k.a., riot police were called, but were attacked. Eventually, the riot disbanded. However, the following night, the club reopened. Once again, TPF officers were dispatched, and it was more than the previous night. Patrons and gatherers were beaten and tear-gassed.

Over the next several nights, gay activists and protesters gathered at the club. Police were also present, but the later interactions between protestors and law enforcement were less violent. The riots lasted six days.

I hope this post was informative and /or helpful. Did this post contain anything you didn’t know? Let me know what you think and your opinions in the comment section. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s time to hit the ice again. Future Goals has arrived and is available.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Order your copy at:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9
Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at https://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit https://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

About the Author

Genevive Chamblee resides in the Bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm,” and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.