You may recall a time, not that long ago, in your town or a town close by, when it seemed less challenging to be a friend, supporter, ally, or advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Whether it was a family member, colleague, friend, or neighbor, you offered your support with minimal thought, if any, to unfavorable reactions by others or having your support criticized. It increasingly feels like a profile in courage or drawing a definitive line in the sand that may result in doxin

In the Communities section of People of All Colors Together Jersey City’s (PACT JC) website, you may have already perused my original work entitled “If We Advocate”.

Saturday, August 22, 2026 marks Jersey City’s 26th Annual Jersey City Pride Festival. This year’s theme is “Show Your True Colors”. Earlier this month I attended Jersey City’s Pride Flag Raising Ceremony at Jersey City City Hall.

Before we get to specifics, let’s start with a working definition of otherism. Going beyond the clinical, sanitized, ethereal versions, let’s agree that otherism entails seeing a person, group, or community as being different from ourselves and undeserving of the status, privilege, relevance, or recognition that our group has.