Pride Month: Icons That Show Us The Spiritual Journey of Self Acceptance
The month of June is Pride Month, continuing a long-standing tradition of celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community. As members of the community, we often think of this month as a time to come together, to march in the streets, to wear our variously-colored flags, and to shout out our identities. However, Pride Month can also be a time of vast spiritual growth, introspection, and resilience.
Throughout Pride Month, we can take the time to really focus on our spiritual selves and our place in a broader queer spiritual movement. We can honor the history of courage and the landmark accomplishments made by the LGBTQIA+ community in the pursuit of social justice. For many of us, we can use Pride Month to recall or even discover spiritual rituals and ancestral knowledge that has carried us thus far. We can look to the symbolism of the rainbow for guidance and hope, connecting us with like-minded people all over the world.
Moreover, Pride Month is a valuable opportunity for us to reflect on our spirituality and its relationship with our queerness. We can ask ourselves questions like, how has my spirituality elevated my expression of gender and sexuality? How has embracing my queer self in turn enriched my spiritual practice? For those of us on our own faith-seeking journeys, it’s important to note that Pride is a beneficial time to engage with new forms of spirituality- to explore and determine what works best for us.
Ultimately, there is not one right way to celebrate Pride Month. We each have our own unique relationship with the LGBTQIA+ community and our spiritual practices that deserve to be celebrated. At its core, Pride Month is a special time to come together, to honor our past and claim our present, and to move forward on our spiritual journeys with the joy and power of the rainbow leading the way.
In this blog we look at some Divine Feminine Archetypal LGBTQIA+ figures and break down how their journeys of self discovery and truth can inspire us all to embrace these energies within ourselves!
Frida Kahlo - The Artist
The artist Frida Kahlo has earned a reputation as an icon of bisexuality and feminism. An acclaimed painter, she has become known for her unique and emotionally charged portraits that capture the gritty reality of her life. But along with her artistry, she was also a bisexual activist who advocated for queer visibility in the 20th century.
Kahlo's bisexuality was an open secret among her friends, though it was not mentioned much in her art. Her painting “The Two Fridas” is thought to symbolize her own inner struggle between her masculine and feminine nature. Through her work, she sought to make visible the bi-sexual identity of many women and the complexity of relationships between genders.
“I paint my own reality. The only thing I know is that I paint because I need to, and I paint whatever passes through my head without any other consideration.”
Kahlo’s public battles with her bisexuality earned her public criticism and in some cases, hate. Despite this, she remained committed to living her truth and was an outspoken advocate for the queer movement.
Though her life was short—she died at the age of 47—Kahlo's artistic legacy has had a lasting influence. Her work can be seen in numerous galleries and exhibitions around the world. Her painting “Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird" is often seen as a representation of her bisexuality, as the bird is a symbol of freedom and sexuality in Mexican folk art.
Kahlo's bold, uncompromising attitude against a largely heteronormative and sexist society earned her well-deserved admiration and acclaim. She remains a source of inspiration for the queer community and for those who strive to find their own voice in a sometimes-hostile world.
Marsha P Johnson - The Resistance
Today, Marsha P. Johnson is remembered as a trans icon and leading figure in the Gay Rights Movement. Her immeasurable courage and bravery at the Stonewall riot and beyond is a powerful reminder that one person can make a difference and be a voice of change for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Marsha was born in New Jersey in 1945, and as a young trans woman, she moved to New York City in 1966. It was in the city that she truly blossomed, and her fight for activism began. With her bestie and fellow iconic trans-woman of color, Silvia Rivera, Marsha was determined to bring attention to the inequalities and struggles that the LGBTQ+ community experienced on a daily basis. Particularly for trans youth, which were often excluded from queer spaces at the time.
She was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front and famously read the first gay pride proclamation on the steps of New York City Hall in 1970.
During the turbulent years of the AIDS crisis, Marsha spoke up for people living with AIDS and those affected by the disease. She was a founding member of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, an organization that aimed to raise awareness of the plight of AIDS sufferers and support them in their fight for equal rights and quality healthcare.
“No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.”
Alongside her activism, Marsha devoted her time to her drag act at the Stonewall Inn, New York's earliest known LGBTQ+ establishment. She is also thought to be one of the first people to throw a brick during the Stonewall Riots. They named her the ‘Mayor’ of the Stonewall, a testament to her beloved presence within the community.
Sadly, Marsha was tragically found dead in the Hudson River in 1992. Though the cause of her death is unknown and suspicious, the death of this inspiring woman is remembered in history.
Despite her untimely death, Marsha P. Johnson is remembered as a symbol of LGBTQ+ rights and a pioneer for her brave and significant contribution to the fight for equal rights. Her legacy still lives on today as we strive to pay tribute to her remarkable work as an activist and to keep her memory alive.
Florence Nightingale - The Healer
Florence Nightingale, as we know, is considered a pioneer of modern nursing and credited with the sheer courage, expertise and her commitment towards the profession. Despite her professional accomplishments, she is now being identified as someone who may have also been a lesbian.
During her lifetime, Florence faced much scrutiny for not following the traditional gender roles of her era. As a woman in Victorian England, she tended to be held to even higher standards than men in her field. Despite this unfair treatment, Florence dedicated her life to her work as a nurse and pushed the limits of her gender.
While very few people knew about her supposed status as a lesbian, Florence was an advocate of LGBTQ rights during her time. Many of her friends and acquaintances reportedly held memberships to gay rights organizations and hailed the lifestyle she sought to defend. In addition to her commitment to nursing and to promoting LGBTQ rights, Florence also wrote extensively about her desire for a more progressive world.
“The world is put back by the death of everyone who has to sacrifice the development of his or her peculiar gifts to conventionality.”
Despite all the challenges she faced during her lifetime, Florence was able to gain much recognition for her work as a nurse. She created the first organized nursing service, established a hospital, revolutionized the way hospital wards were constructed, and worked tirelessly to improve the health and sanitation of people in Britain, India, and beyond.
In addition to her work as a nurse and her commitment to LGBTQ rights, Florence was also an environmentalist. She promoted the importance of clean air and water in her many published works, stressing the importance of preserving these natural resources for future generations. Throughout her life, Florence proved that those who do not conform to traditional gender roles can still thrive and make a difference. We have much to thank Florence for, and her legacy will continue to inspire the LGBTQ community long after her passing.
Eleanor Roosevelt - The Discrete
Eleanor Roosevelt is an iconic figure in the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout her life, she advocated for civil rights, equal treatment and justice for everyone regardless of background or sexual orientation. As the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, she became a powerful figure in both domestic and international affairs.
Eleanor Roosevelt was an early champion of equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Though it is impossible to know exactly when she first acknowledged and accepted her own sexuality, she publicly declared her support for gay marriage in 1959. At the time, she was one of the most influential and respected figures to do so. In a televised interview, she said: “I see no reason why homosexuals should not have the same rights as any other citizen of a country.”
Though Eleanor Roosevelt did not openly identify as a lesbian, many believe that she had affairs with women throughout her life. One of these was a journalist by the name of Lorena Hickock, who was the first woman to be allowed to live in the White House as a staff member. Eleanor and Hickock’s relationship was one of the first openly documented same-sex relationships of the era.
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway.”
In addition to supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, Eleanor Roosevelt was a champion of gender equality. Her work was instrumental in drafting and passing the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which includes protections for gender identity and expression.
Throughout her life, Eleanor Roosevelt fought for civil rights and social justice. She worked tirelessly to support the marginalized members of society, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. She was a vocal advocate and an early champion for the equal rights of all people. We owe her a debt of gratitude for the legacy she has left us.
Janelle Monae - The Visionary
Janelle Monae is an American singer and songwriter whose music spans genres such as R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop, and more. Monae is also a proud and very open pansexual and nonbinary figure. They have been open about their sexuality since 2013, and their songs often reflect queerness. Monae’s music often centers on themes like black pride, feminism, and LGBTQ+ joy.
For Monae, being open about their sexuality and gender is an important part of their mission as an artist. They speak often about the importance of being open and accepting who you are in order to lead a fulfilled life. Monae believes that people should have a safe space to identify and express themselves without fear of judgment, and their music reflects this belief.
“I feel myself becoming the fearless person I have dreamt of being. Have I arrived? No. But I'm constantly evolving and challenging myself to be unafraid to make mistakes.”
Monae’s work has been immensely successful, both critically and commercially. Their debut studio album, The ArchAndroid, was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Their follow-up album, The Electric Lady, earned them a further Grammy nomination as well as four NAACP Image Awards. Monae has gone on to collaborate with iconic performers such as Prince (their mentor), Erykah Badu, and Outkast.
Monae’s actions as an artist and a public figure have also had positive impacts on the queer community. They fight hard for LGBTQ+ rights, voicing their support during the fight for same-sex marriage rights in the US. Beyond that, they play a pivotal role in queer representation and raising awareness around LGBTQ+ issues.
Janelle Monae’s passion for inclusion and equal rights drives her to keep pushing for change and progress. As an openly pan and nonbinary person, their courage and outspokenness are an inspiration to many.
Laverne Cox - The Trailblazer
When talking about influential transgender public figures, Laverne Cox is often at the top of the list. A two-time Emmy-nominated actress and LGBTQ+ icon, she has used her platform to advocate for transgender rights and acceptance. Through her art and advocacy, she has become an inspirational symbol of visibility, resilience, and allies those who feel alienated and persecuted due to their gender identity.
Born in 1984, Laverne Cox first recognized her gender identity in early childhood. She was raised in Mobile, Alabama in a very conservative evangelical family, who denied her access to gender affirming healthcare and social acceptance. Despite the tough environment, Laverne continued her transition journey, stating that although her family's rejection was painful, it was also a form of strength.
"A lot of my work is to stay grounded, is to stay spiritual. It is to disconnect from what other people say about me, but also to try and be connected to the joy and the love.”
Following high school, Cox earned a degree in dance from Marymount Manhattan College and relocated to New York City to pursue a career in performance.
Her real breakthrough came in 2013 when she joined the cast of Netflix's "Orange is the New Black" as Sophia Burset, a transgender character. The show made her the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy for acting and earned her a loyal fan base.
Since then, Laverne has continued to be an example of excellence for the transgender community. She has received a number of awards and recognitions from several foundations, was included on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in 2014, and is the first openly transgender person to appear on the cover of British Vogue magazine.
In addition to acting, Laverne is an outspoken advocate for transgender rights. She often uses her platform to raise awareness about legal issues facing the transgender community, health disparities, and educational challenges faced by transgender people. She is also the founder of the "Laverne Cox Scholars Program," which supports and empowers queer and transgender students of color.
Laverne's activism and artistry have made her a living example of success, proving that those who have faced the unique challenges of being transgender can excel and achieve their dreams. She is undoubtedly an example of strength for those within the transgender community and will continue to champion for trans rights.