"GET FREE: THE PRIDE OF FREEDOM" Immani Love; Photography by Tamara Leigh

THE PRIDE OF FREEDOM

Immani Love

She/Her @ImmaniLove

As we bring Pride month to a close, we are still full of the joy of expressing our true selves with like-minded people in a peaceful and celebratory atmosphere. We donned our rainbows and glitter, our festive makeup, and our most brazen wardrobe choices to amplify the idea that we are free to be who we are in any capacity without fear of ridicule, embarrassment, or even alienation from peers. As a queer Erotic author, this is one of my favorite times of year to help people explore eroticism and sexuality in its purest form. Using art, words, music, and enjoying the privilege of sharing intimacy is a gift. It’s a beautiful feeling and it doesn’t end when the month is over. It lingers through our hearts and our community and helps to foster that same sense of freedom and security for the youth who are still trying to find themselves and come to terms with their sexuality, gender identity, and being comfortable to love whomever they love. In addition to a month of LGBTQ + Pride, we enjoyed having had the opportunity for the first time to nationally celebrate Juneteenth. Businesses closed and families gathered to celebrate the heritage of freedom in the black community. To be unapologetically blackety, black, black! It was so refreshing to wear our traditional African garb, gather and share stories of great historical freedom fighting figures that helped shape our lives today. To learn from our ancestors how to gain the strength to fight through adversity is a lesson we continue to grasp. The opportunity to celebrate our blackness outside of Black History Month has been long overdue and it made the various celebrations of family, unity, and freedom that much more important.

“The caged bird sings with a fearful trill, of things unknown, but longed for still, and his tune is heard on the distant hill, for the caged bird sings of freedom.” ― Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Now as we prepare for the country to begin its celebration of “freedom” for July 4th, with its proud colors of red, white, and blue, its extravagant displays of bright colors lighting up the night sky with fireworks, the barbeques and summer festivities, one rarely takes a moment to speak of what we are supposed to be free from. Is it the “tyranny” of British control? The creation of a brave, “free” nation? Not to get too political but I most recently have put more faith in the concept of “Freedom, isn’t free.” There’s still a lot left to fight for with every passing day. We have had many setbacks to our personal freedoms as of late and as frustrating as it may be, we must try to look at these challenges as opportunities to make changes to the way we affect change. What ways can we make our voices heard and establish a clear plan of action? We are compelled to look back at those freedom fighters of days gone by for inspiration to fight again. From Women’s rights, LGBTQ+ issues, Black Lives Matter, and even basic human rights agendas, we as a people have a lot more work to do before we can ever really say that we are “free.” So, in this season of celebrating “freedom,” go ahead and enjoy those fireworks, wipe the barbecue sauce off your cheek, and enjoy the beaches and family gatherings, just don’t forget that once the smoke clears, and the new day dawns, there is still a battle to be fought.

OUR "GET FREE"JULY COVER MODELS

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y T A M A R A L E I G H

Cadin Small is an African American, Puerto Rican artist and activist who has a passion for cultivating diversity and inclusion in various social spaces. He challenges many with his work to think deep and ask the big questions that don't get asked often and to advocate for traditionally, underserved communities in the United States and world-wide. He also graduated from the University of South Florida with his degree in psychology and is currently obtaining his masters degree in public administration with an emphasis in non-profit management. In 2020, he and his colleagues founded the Blunt Space Incorporated which is non profit organization dedicated to art, advocacy, and culture. Through his organization he continues to create space for underrepresented voice within the arts.

@cadin.small

Immani Love is an erotic Poet & Author with a love for the beauty, sensuality, and sexuality of women. Ordained Minister of Love and able to perform wedding ceremonies. Focus on LGBT events and shows and available for booking, hosting and officiant services.

@ImmaniLove

https://www.facebook.c om/AuthorImmaniLove

www.immanilove.com

Tamara Leigh

Tamara Leigh

Tamara Leigh

Tamara Leigh

Cadin Small & Immani Love

Tamara Leigh