June Horner walked in her first Baltimore Pride Parade in the mid-1980s, not long after learning her son was gay. Since then she has been on a quest to let the world know "our kids are fine just the way they are."
This Saturday she gets to lead that cause.
After having a presence in pride parades in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York and San Francisco, Horner for the first time won't be walking at the back of the procession; she will be grand marshal of the Baltimore Pride Parade.
Horner, a Sykesville resident, said she's thrilled to be marshaling the parade, an honor reserved for city leaders and pioneers in the LGBT rights movement, according to a Baltimore OUTloud article.
Horner said that she found out 25 years ago that her youngest son was gay. She told Patch that it was a difficult time for her in trying to understand what that meant for her and her son.
She said she found support and understanding with the help of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). She has been advocating for gay rights and understanding ever since.
Horner was instrumental in starting PFLAG chapters in Baltimore County and Howard County. She also helped form a PFLAG chapter in Carroll County just last year.
The Baltimore Pride Parade will take place Saturday, June 16, starting at 4 p.m. The parade kicks off at the corners of Monument and Charles streets in Mount Vernon, and travels four blocks north up Charles Street to Chase Street.
"I've never seen the front of a Pride parade because I've always been in the back walking with my son," Horner said. "This year I'll get to be at the front of the parade. I think it's just wonderful that I'm a parent, just a parent being recognized as an ally ... it's a great honor for me."
Congratulations and thank you for your remarkable leadership, your frank honesty, and your kind willingness to share your story as a compassionate parent of a gay child with us all. My hope is that parents who are facing the prospect that their children may be gay with uncertainty about how to handle this emerging experience in their lives will look to your compassionate, loving, and steadfast example before letting the matter come between them and their gay children. I'm expecting only the best for you and us all. Namaste. Tim Hurley
As marriage and relationship therapists for straight and gay couples for 31 years, my husband and I are experts in the field. Whether gay or straight, human connection, relationships and family are a core need and desire for people to live healthy, joyful and productive lives. Most people, gay or straight, grow up wanting to find someone they love, get married and have a family. Who a person happens to be attracted to has nothing to do with the desire for human love, connection and family. Our gay children want the same thing in life as every child wants – love and family. This is not about an agenda. It is about being treated just like everyone else. In all our years of counseling couples, gay couples are no different than straight couples except they have to deal with discrimination. And we can tell you that our gay kids want to get married and have families just like yours. Thank you for asking about the issue of why “civil unions” are not acceptable: (CONTINUED IN MY NEXT COMMENT)
The Civil Marriage Protection Act signed by O’Malley allows same-sex couples to get a “civil marriage license” so they become legally married in the eyes of the state. The Law has specific language that exempts every religious institution from being required to perform same-sex marriage. That’s why this is a civil issue. Gay people want to marry like others for love, family and to function like any other married couple. Civil unions single them out as “separate but equal.” Interracial marriage was outlawed till the late 1960’s. When that changed imagine if we called their marriages “integrated unions.” Imagine if when blacks got citizenship they weren't allowed to be called citizens but were called “civil citizens.” It wouldn't be inclusive or equal. The word “marriage” signifies a rite of passage and degree of commitment that's familiar to everyone. Civil union is “lesser than.” I'd be happy to discuss this with you further
We are sooooo proud of you!!! With love and pride, Lori and Bob