Embracing Pride: An Inspiring Conversation with Angelo Duncan, Donor Engagement Manager at Unite Oregon
June is a time of vibrant celebration and empowerment as we honor Pride Month. This month commemorates the anniversary of the transformative Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969. The courageous individuals who resisted police raids at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York, sparked a profound shift in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States and globally.
“It takes no compromise to give people their rights ... it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression” - Harvey Milk
It is essential to recognize the pivotal role played by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals, particularly those within Black, indigenous, and people of color communities. Building an intersectional movement that centers on Trans and Queer POC is critical to achieving true liberation for our community. It requires us to recognize the intersecting systems of oppression that shape their experiences, actively listen to their voices, challenge systemic inequalities, and stand in solidarity with one another.
In the spirit of celebrating Pride Month, we enjoyed sitting down with Angelo Duncan (pronouns: They/Them, He/Him), Donor Engagement Manager at Unite Oregon. Join us as we delve into the enlightening and uplifting conversation we shared with Angelo, highlighting their unique perspectives and experiences.
What do you love most about being a part of the queer community?
“I think my favorite part of being queer and being a part of the queer community is the constant questioning of ideas, scripts, and cultural norms that each of us has inherited in the process of (forced) socialization. Whether that be questioning your gender, examining how/where you make meaning and find fulfillment in life, or creating new concepts of what family or belonging means, all of which might look radically different from our heterosexual counterparts. A lot of this creativity and openness comes from being exiled, rejected, or pushed to the margins of society throughout history.”
Who is a queer role model/source of inspiration for you? Past and present?
“As a transmasculine, butch person, I feel like I have to say Leslie Feinberg, the famous transgender activist and communist and author of Stone Butch Blues. I mean, her last words were: "Hasten the revolution! Remember me as a revolutionary communist." Way to give a heavy-hitting one-liner like that on your deathbed.
But also as a queer and transgender performing musician and artist, I hold a special place in my heart for queer and trans performers and artists throughout our history. The disco/soul legend, Sylvester, the enigmatic Amanda Lear, SOPHIE (R.I.P.), Wendy Carlos, and Stormé DeLarverie are just a few examples of performers/musicians that embodied a special type of queer and trans grit and glamor - creating magic despite the odds stacked against them”.
Leslie Feinberg (September 1, 1949 – November 15, 2014) was an American activist, author, and a prominent figure in the LGBTQ+ community. Feinberg identified as a butch lesbian and transgender, and played a significant role in advocating for transgender rights. Alongside being a communist, Feinberg wrote extensively on these topics, leaving a lasting impact on gender studies and raising awareness on issues related to gender identity.
What's a way you show pride during Pride Month?
“My most memorable Pride Months have been in the 13+ years I lived in the Bay Area. Attending the National Queer Arts Festival and supporting queer artists all month, as well as attending protests and demonstrations at/around Pride, and spending the whole month immersed in my community, culminating in Trans March and Dyke March over Pride weekend. To me, Pride has always felt most transformative during Trans March. Looking around and seeing thousands of other transgender people and those who love and support us, was really powerful for me. I’d love to live in that feeling every day, make a home in it.”
