Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Pride.
A Grave Converstion
A Grave Conversation The scene is nearly idyllic. Fluffy clouds dot a deep blue sky while mountains stand in afar in all four directions. Shady Pines is a man-made oasis in the desert. Stately trees, some Oak, mostly Pine, dominate a square mile devoid of indigenous Mesquite, and Palo Verde, trees. Soft breezes play lightly through leaves and needles, whispering of peace and tranquility. Temperatures in three digits are not uncommon in areas between tree shadows. Underground temperatures are much cooler.
By David Zinke aka ZINK5 years ago in Pride
BAKING THE HATE OUT OF HATRED
I walked the drizzling streets of New York until I entered a bakery shop that had boarded windows, except one that had dilapidated foam creations on display in the window. Inside the shop, an old white man dressed in an apron approached me. His movements were slow but brash. His skin was overrun by sunspots and wrinkles, and a stern expression was on his face. I immediately understood that the old man was not the type to hashtag the winner of Rupaul’s Drag Race anytime soon.
By Elyssa Ely5 years ago in Pride
In a Moment
The click of a gas burner sounds through the open kitchen and the fire of azure and red-yellow hues springs to life adding warmth around the space. The clank of pots and pants being sifted through in a lower cupboard cut through the otherwise silent room. Delicate huffs of approval vocalize once the desired pot is found and set upon the heated stove with a muffled thud. Selene walks a few feet to the cupboard next to the fridge and pulls out the last remnants of semi-sweet chocolate morsels to heat and melt down. It’s supposed to give her dessert that extra chocolatey kick that would have even the most muted palates humming in appreciation. She pauses in appreciation of the enticing, bright packaging--it’s supposed to be the best in the market.
By Madelyne Velez5 years ago in Pride
Bradley
Bradley swirled the last bit of frosting at the top of the cake. He looked up as the curtains bristled along with the wind and held his eyes on his backyard. The sun glowed on the mountain behind their house, right at the peak of its most golden hour of the day. He loved watching the mountain shine like that. He let himself stare for a moment before he put his attention back to his creation and all of its glory.
By Andrew J. Stillman5 years ago in Pride
Carrot Cake
Meredith always hated birthdays, she just didn't see the point in all the hubbub. She hadn't asked to be born after all and it certainly wasn't an achievement. Yet, here she was standing at the bakery counter picking up a chocolate cake for her own birthday. She didn't even like chocolate all that much but her mother had insisted on a party and had already paid for the cake.
By Savannah Rose Hannum5 years ago in Pride
Aran
Aran lies in bed, eyes focused on the ceiling. His phone sat on the nightstand to his right. The screen lights up, and he can see the flash of light out of the corner of his vision. He doesn’t move to check whatever messages he’s received. Sadly, he knows what most of them will say. Messages from earlier in the night flash in his might, and he attempts to push them out quickly.
By Jess Washington5 years ago in Pride
Time to be Trans-Parent
50 years. As I approach the end of my 30's I am hit by how long 50 years of life really is. It's a marriage, 3 adult children, grand children, the loss of parents and the rise of social change. Its a lifetime of knowing yourself when no one else does, or maybe they did and you just didn't know how deep love can be. 50 years of being a woman when everyone else saw you as a man.
By Caitlin Cook5 years ago in Pride
Loving a gay soldier
I had just arrived back from five weeks of training exercises and had everything to put away. It was just past 2000 hours, 800pm for you civilian minded people. I received a call from my boyfriend Hans, wanting to talk, but my sergeant told him we weren't available yet. He said to tell him he wanted to see me tomorrow, which was fine with me as it had been five weeks since I last saw him, I couldn't wait. I called him and he said come over the next day when I got off duty and I did.
By Lawrence Edward Hinchee5 years ago in Pride
Happiness is Cake
Happiness is cake. Or so it is for one Millie Gonzales. Cake and her late abuelita, to be specific. She was blessed with her grandmother’s sweet tooth. They would spend countless blissful hours tinkering with recipes, licking batter off of spoons, and enjoying in the fruits (well, cakes) of their labor. Their shared passion for baking inspired Millie to want to share her happiness with others. She’ll never forget the tearful look her sweet abuelita gave her before pulling her into a fierce hug when she revealed the name of her shop: Rosa’s Bakery. It seemed only natural to name it after the woman who had supported her every step of the way. It was an exciting year watching her business gain traction and quickly become a local favorite. However, things took a turn when Rosa’s health started to rapidly decline last month.
By Ashley Gomez5 years ago in Pride
Many knew the cost
When I was growing up in the 1960's and 1970's as a gay boy we didn't have any role models to look too. I do apologize for the length of this post, I know it definitely will hit the 600 word mark. Most younger generation LGBTQ will ask why are so many people coming out in their fifties and sixties? Or as my first boyfriend said, I love you late bloomers. We had no one to look up too and if you read some of these examples listed below, you will understand why, starting with Mr. Rohrer. I, like Mr. Rohrer of the Dallas Cowboys had no positive role models. But Mr. Rohrer was told if he was gay, then it would destroy his football career. Jeffrey Charles Rohrer (born December 25, 1958) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Yale University and was drafted in the second round of the 1982 NFL Draft. Early life and collegiate career
By Lawrence Edward Hinchee5 years ago in Pride
Their place.
Ann peeked anxiously out of the window, her brilliant white nets still fresh from their recent wash, the sweet scent reaching her nose. She fingered them gently, pulling them back into place; the breeze had misplaced them slightly and now they weren't hanging right. Ann had become very particular over her nets the past 15 months, how they hung, the way they smelled how they may look from the outside. The outside, the beautiful, scary and forever changed outside. Ann stepped back slightly, this window had been her prisoner and saviour all at once; allowing her glimpses of the normality that slowly started to grow again, hesitant first meetings through the window, opened just enough to have a conversation until fear had made her close it, lock it and step away again when the second wave came, then she simply peered through it longingly, waving at neighbours and watching the world creep back to life once more, while she felt trapped and left behind. Forgotten.
By Claire Lamb5 years ago in Pride
Table for One
Remnants of the store-bought, single-sliced chocolate cake hid in the slits of Liam’s teeth creating a faint bittersweet taste. The semi-sweet aftertaste reminded him of happier times, but those memories left emotional bruises. He knew he could never return to those days where his entire family would gather around him, and the largest homemade chocolate cake singing off-key in celebration. His eyes would dance with flames of excitement as a warm radiant smile was plastered across his face. Even as he used every muscle in his body to inhale, his smile lingered in the corners of his lips. Their cheers would erupt loud enough to rattle the windows as he expelled all of the air from his lungs to blow out every last candle in a single breath. Those were the moments he used to live in, as he felt unconditionally loved or so he thought. Much like the cake fragments lurking in his mouth, his memories had dwindled over time and had lost the value of when they had first occurred. Especially now, as he sat alone at the kitchen table eating a sad excuse for cake in the dark.
By Taylor Kemna5 years ago in Pride
