Tamar Jakeli – I am Also Here!

“Just a few days ago, I was not going to attend the March of Honor planned for Pride Week because I believe that at this stage, especially given the experience of May 17, 2013, we need to think of better ways to talk to our community than these public protests. However, in recent days I have been thinking that because part of the community members think that public protest is necessary, I should also stand with them, for solidarity. Especially when the participants of the Pride are threatened by ultra-right groups who are already throwing eggs and stones.

In general, I have my criticisms of Pride Marches globally, but I think that in our context, a peaceful Pride March in Tbilisi might be a great achievement and a step forward, especially for the young queers who are eagerly awaiting July 5 to see if they will be accepted in their country or not. I was 17 years old in 2013 and I was traumatized without attending. Somehow, the next generation of activists must come out of this march without trauma – that is my main wish.

Pride for me is the answer to the fact that many queer people have to hide our differences from childhood and in the process we gradually hate ourselves. For years I thought I would always have to live in hiding, that no one would accept me, that no one would love me for who I am. And now that I have accepted myself and, moreover, many people around me have accepted me, I am more comfortable living in my own body, I am more comfortable with myself – both as an individual and as a member of a community.

We, the queer people, are always forced to give up our identity in the name of working on “common problems”. However, our time never comes in this country. In the light of recent events, all people for whom equality and freedom are important should be in solidarity with Tbilisi Pride, even if they are critical of the Pride March as a strategy. A March of Honor must be held peacefully! This is the most important thing.

“The other problems that queer people face – poverty, economic inequality, harsh working conditions, a devastated environment, capitalism and investor greed – can be the focus for the remaining 364 days of the year.”

Previous Story

You Cannot Build a State and You Cannot Protect the Valley if You Do Not Protect the People – Tamar Gurchiani

Next Story

Tiko Raphava – I am Also Here!

Latest news