I’ve been “online” since the fall of 1985 when I first encountered one of the earliest “chat” programs at my alma mater. It was known as CB (like the radios popular in the day) and only was accessible by fellow students. It was a few more years before I gained access to the Internet. Back then it was still basically just academics. But even then it was easy to find the trolls, bigots, racists, and more. And it was as easy to both engage with them and ignore them.

I learned pretty early on that often engaging them did not change their minds. Such is still true today.

And yet, I still do at times. People have asked me “Why are you wasting your time?”

There are two reasons, one relevant to this post, the other less so. The one less so is at times it can be amusing in its own way. The relevant one is because I’m not necessarily trying to change their minds (though there is still that hope and sometimes it works.)

The reason I engage is because I can. Because it’s a case where sometimes I can use my privilege in a good way. Because I can ideally show those who are being attacked, shamed, or hurt that “hey someone is on your side.”

Hence, this is why in a huge part I choose to march with my employer Albany Medical Health System in the recent Pride Parade in Albany. I want people to know they “hey, you’re not alone.” This was driven home when I overheard two of my coworkers discussing some recent Supreme Court decisions and how they feared those and possible future ones might impact their lives.

Yes, it’s true that marching in a pride parade is much like preaching to the choir, pretty much everyone there is already supportive of equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community, but it’s always possible there’s those who aren’t, or those who are on the fence.

Now, I honestly don’t know the sexualities of my coworkers that I marched with. Nor is it important. What is important is standing up and saying, “I’m with you, you’re not alone.”

Disclaimer: As always, I speak for myself, not my employer, Albany Medical Health Systems and these opinions are my own. That said, since they organized our participation and provided shirts, you can read into that what you will.