Chief Editor's Note: Pride

The world is changing, as it tends to do over time. Technically nothing is out of the ordinary, just business as usual. But in the last few years some of those changes have been quite challenging to face. I’ve certainly felt dazed, lost and exhausted in the overall political climate since the pandemic started, and even more so now. Compassion towards other human beings sparks debate, caring about the environment is somehow ludicrous and honestly even existing as a person has become nearly overwhelming.

Staying true to your identity and existing as you do should not be an act of political warfare, and by all things that are holy in the world I wish they weren’t. I doubt people go about their lives wishing to be policed or scrutinised every step of the way, especially since they’re usually not trying to attract any attention to themselves. They’re just trying to live. As is everybody else. The settings we each have in the metaphorical game of life just differ, but we’re all equally trying to make it through the day.

I wish more people were truly willing to live and let live. No one has to understand everything that happens around them, nor do they have to understand every single person they meet during their time on this planet. But the least we can offer one another is respect. When someone tells you or shows you who they are, believe them. No one is asking you to have a full comprehension and a deeply personal understanding of how they came to that conclusion, but you should be able to respect that. A friend of mine compared it to spoken languages across the globe: you may not understand French, for example, but you should acknowledge that it exists. You may speak a certain language and so might everyone in your immediate group of friends, but that does not mean that people do not speak French.

And being confused is ok. But remember that no one is obligated to explain their identity to you. You don’t ask every French speaker you come across to explain the intricacies of their grammar now do you? You can look it up yourself. We have access to a lot of information without burdening a minority group to teach us everything about their existence. If they are willing to talk, listen. If not, look it up. Remember that they are people too.

We are people too. Not the same in every aspect, but people nonetheless. And we are beautiful. We may be rough around the edges, damaged and scared, but still beautiful. We may be frightening, loud and opinionated, but still beautiful. We are people that are honest, reliable, kind and beautiful inside and out. We are a community, and there is strength in community. There is strength in compassion and love. Allow yourself to feel that.

Allow yourself to love who you are and what you’ve accomplished. Allow yourself to be loved by others, be open to words and acts of kindness. The world is a scary place, but we are not alone in it, no matter how much pain gets thrown our way. We can and should feel those feelings, pain and frustration, but not let them consume us. Pain and fear can also be harnessed into newfound strength, like the power behind your voice. Some changes may make us feel small but we can turn that into something bigger than ourselves. Resilience. Resistance. Beauty and love.

Pride is both a protest and a celebration. It is about ups and downs, joys and sorrows, sunshine and rain. We deserve to rejoice and have fun, but we must remember where we come from and what we still face. As a community, we need each other, and we still have a lot of work to do. It can be scary to exist in the world right now, but together we can get through anything. No matter where you stand within the community or how far along you are on your journey of self-discovery, you matter. You are beautiful.

For this pride issue, the editors of BTSB have gathered a wonderful collection of texts for our readers to enjoy. Sini has written a review for Catherine Loves You, a play by one of our dear former editors, while Liisa has compiled a list of queer classics you might want to read this June. If poems are what you fancy instead, Sara wrote a piece about her time as a student and Robi about growth and indentity. But that is not all, because Alexander makes a magnificent BTSB debut with a short collection of poetry! In case poetry is not for you, Rasmus wrote an intriguing short story full of struggle and anguish. For those looking for a more thoughtful approach to pride, you can check out our text on aromanticism or Sini’s thoughts on pride and disdain. And for those in need of something else entirely, you can take a trip to Ullanlinna with Emilia’s newest rendition of Helsinki in details. Regardless of how you celebrate, if you choose to celebrate at all, we would like to wish you all a happy pride month!