Celebrating Pride Through Allyship
Parent Leader Jennifer Wilson
Jennifer (right) shares below her experiences at a Royal’s baseball game as she sits in the Buck O'Neil seat to uplift Modern Family Alliance's work for representation and basic human rights for the queer community.
I truly appreciate all of the love my family received while seated in the Buck O’Neil seats at the Royal’s game. I am incredibly fortunate to get to spend my time supporting parents, families and the queer community and it was an honor to be able to uplift the work of Modern Family Alliance.
For 20 years, past and present board members and volunteers have worked towards making Kansas City a place that is respectful, encouraging and inclusive for all families but our work is not done.
The photos I shared above are significant because this kind of representation is seen as controversial by many. This past school year, families like ours were under attack in countless statehouses and school districts across the country for our mere existence. Books and discussions that include families like ours are being debated and banned. It is difficult to witness these attacks as an adult but it is painful as a parent to know that our children will also have to carry the weight of constant scrutiny. They will see and hear influential people use their platforms and positions to say, at best, that families like theirs don't deserve to be mentioned or seen, and at worst, that they shouldn't exist at all.
It is not just a matter of words or opinions. Speech that is hateful, dehumanizing, and derogatory leads to harassment, discrimination, harm, and violence.
This is why representation is vital. Children in families like ours need to see that they are not alone, queer youth need to see that happy, healthy families do exist and becoming a parent is not out of reach, and the community at large needs to see that our families are not controversial and should not be up for debate.
This fight for basic human rights is not over and we need your support. This Pride Month please support and uplift queer owned businesses, non-profit organizations and events with your voice, time and wallets.
You can get started today by donating to Modern Family Alliance at https://mfakc.org/donate/
