The Forward Roll

Welcome to Bluegrass Pride 2018

Welcome to Bluegrass Pride 2018

As the social media director of Bluegrass Pride, I have been blessed with the role of being our main point of contact between the public and the organization. I get to hear from the people who have been touched by Bluegrass Pride firsthand – I hear your stories, your struggles, and your pride. I invite you to our events, I try to get you to engage with the pictures we post and the funny anecdotes we share. Every time you interact with our page, I get a little notification telling me that our movement means something to you.

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Hate Ain't No Part of Nothin'

Hate Ain't No Part of Nothin'

There are many different types of people in this world and as individuals, there are some we get along with, some we don’t. We do not need to be friends with everyone, rather we need to accept each other's differences and give people the respect to conduct their own lives. Just because someone identifies as gay or straight does not make them a good or bad person. Assholes and jerks come from all walks of life. Everyone has their own free will to speak to who they want to, pick with who they want to, and camp with who they want to. 

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Opening The Door: A Conversation with Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer

Opening The Door: A Conversation with Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer

Cathy and Marcy weave their values into their music in a seamless and natural way.  I admire this greatly. As musicians, they are always honing their craft, studying and learning and expanding boundaries by bringing together different musical styles. They are activists, educators, conscientious human beings, married partners, and they both have a zest for life. They are pioneers in embracing and promoting diversity in roots music. That is the theme of our conversation.

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Shrinking My Blind Spot

Shrinking My Blind Spot

For most of my life, and mostly without my knowing, living within this stereotype has served as a kind of armor -- shielding me from risk and consequence. At times literally keeping me out of danger. Oftentimes garnering entrée or a degree of respect that I hadn’t yet earned. It has virtually always been okay to just be my authentic self and to share those qualities that make me “me” without a second thought.

I’ve never felt a need to be self-conscious about those qualities or to keep them hidden. I’ve never had a reason to.

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The Most Family-Friendly Thing You Ever Do

The Most Family-Friendly Thing You Ever Do

And while you'll go to be supportive of the idea of inclusivity in bluegrass in general, the day will shift to where you, Dad, and Ross realize that you're really there for Christopher as you watch him march proudly, happier and more himself than you've ever seen him. This unwavering pride in your brother is where you'll find that long sought after familial feeling of love, belonging, and support. It will feel somewhat ironic that after running from your family problems into the welcoming embrace of the bluegrass community that bluegrass would ultimately bring your family together. But only because of Bluegrass Pride.

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