Advocacy
On Edmonton Pride.
Friends. I have to admit I’m angry. I’m angry about what looks like bad governance. I’m angry about a lack of accountability. I’m angry that trans and especially racialized trans voices are being ignored. I’m angry that the narrative has become entirely about police. I’m angry that this has all resulted in so many organizations pulling out of the Pride parade.
By Vivienne Horne25 days ago in Pride
Society, Sexual Orientation, and the Truth About Choice
For many years, society has debated whether being gay represents a choice or a natural part of human diversity. As a straight man, I stand with the LGBTQIA community and believe every person deserves dignity, respect, and equal treatment. I believe sexual orientation comes from deep aspects of human identity rather than a decision someone makes. Research across many fields has helped people understand that attraction involves complex influences involving biology, development, genetics, and personal experiences.
By Nolan Reed2 months ago in Pride
How to Find a Truly Queer-affirming Church
As a queer woman living in the Midwest, I thought I had homophobic churches all figured out. And, indeed, I've had Christians treat me like a monster and quote Bible verses at me when I came out to them. However, in my search for a welcoming congregation, I didn't realize that many churches have become smarter than that.
By Kaitlin Shanks2 months ago in Pride
Marsha P. Johnson Remembering a Legend
Marsha P. Johnson was a beacon of courage, compassion, and resistance whose name continues to shine through generations of LGBTQ+ history. As communities around the world remember her death anniversary, her life invites reflection on the power of one person’s determination to create change. Marsha carried a spirit of generosity and bravery that reached far beyond moments of protest. She offered hope to people searching for acceptance, dignity, and a place where they could live openly.
By Tim Carmichael2 months ago in Pride
A Decade of Pride Parade Fun
As Pride Month 2026 nears to a close, there are a few things I want to discuss. Conservatives make the mistake every year during Pride Month by telling on themselves. In other words, they expose who they really are by unapologetically spewing their own homophobic and transphobic views. This happens when it's not even Pride Month. They love to kick and scream about things that don't affect them. 29 of Major League Baseball's teams held Pride Night at their ballparks, with the Texas Rangers being the only team who has yet to hold said event at Globe Life Field. I've shared my thoughts about that topic in a couple of stories I've written. The Los Angeles Dodgers Pride Night was held on June 5, which on that same night, the organization revealed a permanent exhibit honoring Billy Bean and Glenn Burke. Both of the late MLB players became the first openly gay players in the league, although they came out after their careers concluded. However, this honor was overshadowed by controversy regarding one of their players. Dodgers pitcher Blake Treinen made headlines for refusing to wear his rainbow-themed cap. It wasn't mandatory for players to wear these hats, but recently, Commissioner Rob Manfred warned players of writing anything on their hats, because it was prohibited as stated in the rulebook. Homophobia is still present in this league, and I've talked about this in one of my previous stories. Blake Treinen wasn't the first Dodgers player I called out for their anti-gay rhetoric. Nearly a year ago, I went in on the now retired Clayton Kershaw for his anti-gay views by writing a Bible verse on his rainbow-themed cap, which was deemed as hate towards the LGBTQ+ community. I've accused him of being a bigot in other previous stories. At first, I saw him as one of the best pitchers that had played the game. Now that I saw him for who he really was, I could no longer consider him as one of the best pitchers in MLB, nor I would ever acknowledge him as a World Series champion. He was very grumpy, whiney, and was deserving of the nicknames Kerchoke and Chokeshaw. Even if his number gets retired by the Dodgers one day and inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, I still won't miss him at all. He and I are both from Texas, but Kershaw would've been a great addition to the Texas Rangers bullpen. Instead, he betrayed his home state and chose to play for the Dodgers for all 18 seasons. So, yes. I'm calling him a traitor, because as a Texan, we no longer claim him as one of our own. I'll say this up front about him and I'm going to piss off a lot of Dodgers fans: Clayton Kershaw is a bigoted, piece of shit. He'll always be a piece of shit. I'll never praise or give him any sort of credit. He'll always be a joke and an embarrassment to Major League Baseball. It may be harsh, but I make zero apologies for saying those things.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 3 months ago in Pride
A Token of Appreciation: Spencer Strider
I've been a writer on Vocal for nearly a decade and always encouraged everyone to take something meaningful away from the stories I write and publish on here. Major League Baseball teams who have been participating in yearly Pride Night festivities have LGBTQ+ fans continue to show up at games. One of those teams is the Atlanta Braves and the player who has been in the news is who I'll be discussing in this story. I published my first story of me praising baseball players, which I started doing last year featuring retired MLB player Anthony Rizzo. I'll have that story in the link down below.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 3 months ago in Pride
