Knackered Reflects on PRIDE with Benzos

   Hey there, Knackered here.  If you’ve had wellness of body and mind recently, you may have ventured out and noticed rainbow flags in the air.  The month of June is universally celebrated as PRIDE month.  The flag represents visibility and hope for the LGBTQ+ community.  While it was created in 1978, the current flag is actually a modification of the original. Each of the colors represents a different meaning. Red=Life.  Orange=Healing Yellow= Sunlight  Green=Nature  Blue=Serendipity and  Purple= Spirit.

   Contemporary interest in the PRIDE movement began in 1969 when the NYPD raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar in Greenwich Village.  Gatherings of Gay people were frowned on.  While police dragged people and employees out the door, retaliation began in the street outside.  These events resulted in a six day protest and violent clashes with the NYPD.  While politicians ignored the whole thing, the media made sure that it was splattered as front page news worldwide.

   US President, Bill Clinton designated June as Pride month.  The more inclusive name, LGBTQ+ was coined by Barack Obama in 2009.  What happens in regard to Pride celebration and acknowledgement varies greatly from one region to another.  Homophobia still runs rampant in countries around the globe.  In some cases it trends toward religion while in others it’s part of long ingrained cultures and lifestyles.  Throughout the centuries, people have been afraid of others who are different and reacted by marginalizing them, putting them away somewhere, or eliminating them altogether.

   Along the continuum, attitudes range from something akin to racism to just plain violence when a marginalized group or community shows resistance.  Marginalized groups are quite often ignored and their concerns, needs and voices rarely heard or understood.

   We, as this group of Benzo victims, are a marginalized community. You may not have encountered anything burning in your front yard, but we have been ignored by the pharmaceutical companies that created the medication and by doctors who neither understand nor take the time to educate themselves in practices to lessen our suffering and encourage safe methods of WD.  I, personally, have had 5 different medical providers since  I began my taper.  Of the five, only the one I’m currently seeing has read the Ashton Manual and put its years of research and insight into practice.

   I’m encouraged by recent articles posted on BB that cite studies, research and practices to further our cause.  But, how many of us are actually believed when we have the courage to voice our situation to others?  Pride month celebrates diversity.  It supports the needs of those who are different:  in sexuality, gender, color, disability, and health.  For those reasons alone, we need to acknowledge that we’re part of that group.