Commentary: Take Pride in who we are as a community

The hard work of seeing beyond our past and embracing a diverse, inclusive future is never done.

Whether it's two steps forward and one step back – or lately one step forward and two steps back – now is the time to make those steps count, being more determined and deliberate than ever in our support for the LGBTQIA+ community. We can only achieve our shared goals and dreams taking each step forward together, and supporting each other in the setbacks.

Yes, this journey has many solemn, gritty, exhausting moments. But finding joy is an act of resistance and strength, and there's always time to come together and build community.

Leander and Cedar Park Pride have come together to sponsor a Community Carnival, March 29 at Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church, and you're invited. We hope everyone shows up, because we know that all things are possible in the strength and comfort of numbers, especially an afternoon full of festivities and fellowship.

This family-friendly event will feature food trucks, crafts, entertainment, vendors and exhibitors, LGBTQIA+ storytelling and a drag show. It's an opportunity to meet new people, learn about the differences that make us unique, and understand what it is to stand up for our neighbors, exspecially those who are different than us.

We're thankful for our close-knit supportive community in Cedar Park and Leander. It is a comforting reminder than our local community is the most important one, even as the state and federal government work to divide us by our differences, marginalize minorities, and silence the critical conversations that help move us forward.

The most important signal of definace we can send to them is to come together in spite of their efforts to support one another.

Pride is defined as consciousness of one's own dignity. Many of our neighbors in the LGBTQIA+ community have been forced to develop that pride without the same encouragement, support, and love many of us have taken for granted throughout our lives.

We should expand that definition of Pride to mean a consciousness of the dignity of all those around us, recognizing their value, embracing their individuality and contribution to the greater whole that makes up our special community.

The community carnival March 29 will be big fun, and another small step toward the ultimate choice of diversity and inclusion over marginalization and division.

So come out, enjoy some good food, shop, have a laugh, do some crafts, make some new friends, and learn at least one thing about someone new that gives you a better perspective on someone different.

Days like this will be what we look back on and recognize as the ones thart made the most difference in learning to see beyond our troubled past.