Juneteenth and Gay Pride Events Highlight Freedom and Happiness

From the Left, by James L. Cogar

Yesterday, June 21st, I saw something in Longview I can't remember seeing before. I saw a level of happiness that exceeded any I have ever seen since arriving in East Texas 22 years ago.

As chair of the Gregg County Democratic Party, I attended two events. The first was the Juneteenth Celebration at Broughton Park and then went to Heritage Plaza to see the first Longview Gary Pride celebration. In many ways, both celebrations were similar. Each was a chance for participants to exhibit and display the joy of their culture and opportunity afforded to citizens of the United States to be who they are and share that joy with friends and loved ones. Each event was unique in that only in this country can such celebrations occur.

At Juneteenth, the park was filled with families commemorating the arrival in Texas of the news that

slavery had come to an end in our great state. Music, food, dress and dance were all on display as hundreds participated to mark the historic occasion. A great emancipation had taken place back in 1865, and descendants of those former slaves, both spiritual and actual, gathered to not only remember that day but to mark the progress that has occurred since. They not only used the day to celebrate the righting of a great wrong but to showcase the milestones that has taken place since. The pride and happiness was palatable and much deserved.

Later in the afternoon, I traveled just a few miles to downtown Longview and witnessed much of the same joy as our city hosted its first Gay Pride celebration. Once again, a segment of our society that has been subjected to discrimination and injustice was free to show the city the progress our nation has made and is continuing to make. People were free to express themselves as who they are and showcase their love for their partners. Supported by family and supporters, members of the LBGT community proudly proclaimed that emancipation from fear and ignorance was just around the corner, if not already here.

If you were there at either or both events, I know that you could see in the faces of all participants a sense of freedom that was almost palpable. Next year's Juneteenth and Gay Pride celebrations may not be on the same day, but it is my most fervent hope and prayer that each will be even more successful and joyous than this year's but that will be a tough act to follow.

See also publication in the Longview News Journal, June 22, 2014

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