June is Pride Month. Today in Northfield was “Pride in the Park.” Something I noticed was the number of young adults who looked happy, comfortable, and exhuberant as they moved around the park visiting different booths, laughing and talking with one another. I’m guessing some of these individuals don’t always act this freely in public. It was a beautiful thing. This was juxtaposed with the small band of protestors in the corner of the park, with one person very loudly (almost constantly) “preaching” (significant air quotes around that) and reading from the bible. He spewed hateful comment after hateful comment to the wind mostly, but then occaisionally picked specific individuals walking by and directed his bile at them. It was painful to listen to, and as the booth I was tending was within earshot, I got an earful. It saddened me.

March 31, 2022 (International Transgender Day of Visibility) I wrote this song from the perspective of a young person unable to have conversations with family. Sparked by the day, the character I envisioned was transgender, though I don’t think it has to be limited to that perspective or situation. I’ve debated recording and sharing this song, as it’s not my place to take on this voice. And that may be so. Though, it could be there’s value in this middle-aged, white, cisgender man providing words that might help someone bullied and silenced by the likes of the protestor in the park today. Or maybe it’s simply another way of showing up. Anyway, here’s my song “Silence Understood.”