Curb-side Pride Parade

Pride month

Capitalisms attempt to profit from the sociological desire for inclusivity

In June 1999 ‘Gay and Lesbian’ Pride was declared

Give them a month, it’s only a phase

In 2009 it was declared LGBT Pride

For those not in the box of what they consider ‘societal norms’

In 2021 they added more letters and LGBTQ+ Pride month was declared

There are more outside the box than could ever fit in it

A month of celebrations

Alongside the numerous other month-long national celebrations

They supply an abundance of rainbows and spout the word ‘Pride’

We forget that ‘pride’ was used to replace words like ‘liberation’ and ‘freedom’

Thirty days of colourful marketing

They couldn’t even give us thirty-one

A corporation backing the movement

A gamble

An internet post to show their support

A marketing ploy for more sales

People in pressed suits standing for acceptance

Using stories three times removed of a person they once knew

Embracing a group once considered a Minority

Avoiding apologies for a group they once considered criminals

Sponsoring Parades of people finally being themselves

Realising the Parade of people are not afraid to speak anymore

A month of proud people, unashamed of their truth

And those still too scared to find theirs

And then comes July

And the posters come down

A new sale is posted

And the people stop marching

Buy one get one free

And you are left, standing on the curb, watching the rainbows disappear

Reduced to clear

A not-quite-straight woman wondering if you are just as much a fraud as the businesses

Sales on already reduced prices

A straight relationship is basically one foot in the box, right?

Get in while you can

But you wear your rainbow laces year-round anyway

Only while stock lasts

And hope that one day, it all becomes as simple as it should be