Pride 2020

                      Witch-izards and Wiz-itches Join LGTBIQAK-SOGI-WZ PRIDE 2020
 
“Gender diversity now includes half the population, alphabetically speaking,” the Wizitch Sunshine commented proudly.  “We don’t mind bringing along the last few letters.  It’s important for us to be included.  We have been discriminated against for centuries, and that has to end.”

There is no denying the suffering imposed on witches of all genders and cultures throughout history.  Once in a while exceptional individuals worked their way into the office of Grand Vizier or Vestal Priestess, but all too often it was “to the stake with them” and a fiery end.

“We thought about having a Pride Parade of our own” Sunshine (a nom-de-broom) admitted.  “It’s the thing to do, these days.  I was inspired by the Islamic Pride Parade reported this week.  If there has ever been a persecuted gay community it’s them.”

The fall-out from this report is that some non-Muslim gay protesters wanted to know why the Islamic Pride group couldn’t just join the rest of the LGBT+ people in big Pride Parades being planned.  It would show we’re united.”

Sunshine told our reporter, “Obviously those protesters don’t understand what Pride is all about.  Those who are threatened and driven into hiding have their sense of self-worth eroded.  It takes courage to march.  Marching restores pride as well as community.  Identifying with a specific persecuted group enhances pride that may be diluted by joining a massive march.”

“Have you been persecuted?” our reporter asked.

“Not me, personally, as such.  Witches where hunted nearly to extinction as recently as 150 years ago right around here in Chiang Mai, but this gender transition part is what our generation is dealing with.”

“We, and by that, so far, I mean ‘I’, I decided not to have a separate Witch-izard-Wiz-itch Pride Parade here in Chiang Mai , however,” Sunshine sighed and then brightened.

“What do you indicate by calling yourself a Wiz-itch?”

Sunshine glowed, “These days we affirm our diversity by being precise about our identity.  That’s how we establish our unity in the realm of sexual exceptions.”

When our reporter didn’t quite understand this, Sunshine explained, “I’m neither 100% Wizard nor Witch.  Society would like to force me into one or the other box, but I’m trying to help non-binary, intermediate and transitional terms gain traction.  I’m a Wizitch, a Wizard who is tentatively moving toward the Witch side of the spectrum.”

“How many transgender Witch-to-Wiz and Wiz-to-Witch individuals do you estimate there to be in Chiang Mai?” Sunshine was asked.
​
“So far there’s just me that I know of (and I’m often nor sure about me), but after this Saturday there may be others who come out onto their brooms in the daylight.  I’m what you could call the Wizitch vanguard.”
 
[NOTE: Chiang Mai Pride 2020 really is taking place on Saturday 22/02/2020.  A march through the city is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.  To find details search the Internet for Chiang Mai Pride 2020 or check the Chiang Mai Pride Facebook page.]