Those who came before
Never, ever, ever, ever forget that Reagan, his administration, and Nancy are the reason so many of your loved ones died from AIDS. Instead of acknowledging the epidemic and the mounting deaths, they basically ignored it. Instead of diverting funds to fight and reaserch AIDS when the reality began to set in, it was something for them to make fun of. "The Gay Plague." Remember all of those who suffered and died, because they weren't straight white men. They were "obscene", "deviant", or "disgusting". They were dearly loved friends and family. The generation immediately preceeding my own watched those friends and love ones waste away. They watched them be shunned, and abandoned on their deathbeds. My generation lost a few, but we've mostly had the benefit of time and research. The majority of our loved ones got to live longer, or are still able to continue living with the virus. I hope Aiden's generation sees it eradicated.
While I'm on my tirade, never forget the Stonewall Inn. Never forget what happened to Alan Turing. Never forget Fanny and Stella. Never forget pink triangles. Harvey Milk. The March on Washington. Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
I have been fortunate to have been insulated from the worst of it. I'm a bi (I suppose a better term would be omni), white, person who grew up in a city with a wonderful and supportive lgbtqia community. A community that existed long before I was born. We has GSA clubs in high school. My little bubble protected me from the worst, but I will never, ever forget those who walked before us. The ones who gave everything, so that we could have it better.
Speak out for the rights of the lgbtqia community. Speak out for minorities who don't have the voice you were lucky enough to be gifted. The only way we all survive is together. Punch neo-nazis. Call out hypocrites. Push for equality. Push for the future. You have privilege? Fucking use it. None of these minority groups need a straight or white savior, they need fucking allies. Real allies. Don't speak for them. Speak WITH them. We are at a crossroad. The pressure is building. Be on the right side of history.