This quote is said to have originated during the AIDS crisis, a time when Queer people fought for their right to exist while the world turned a blind eye. They buried their lovers, their friends, and their mentors who were killed by a plague that the government refused to acknowledge. They did not stop at mourning; they organized, marched, rioted, and made the world listen. And yet, they knew resistance was not enough because survival alone is not a revolution – joy is. They refused to let grief and rage consume them. They lived, they loved, they created, they laughed, and they danced. Because to dance, to revel in the beauty of life, even in the face of death, is an act of defiance.
We stand on their shoulders and inherit the freedoms they bled for. While we have made progress in these generations, the world still seeks to erase us, silence us, and strip us of our autonomy, our rights, and our joy. The last weeks have acutely shown us this intention. So we must take the wisdom of our elders and live it: Bury your friends in the morning, protest in the afternoon, and dance all night.
This isn’t going to be over in a couple weeks; we are going to suffer losses in the coming years, and we will need to take time and make space to mourn and process them. These will be difficult times that many of us younger Queers have never experienced, and it will take time to grapple with these losses. We should also channel our anger into protesting, causing disturbances, and being civilly disobedient so the world will hear us. We must continue until they hear our cries and join us in fighting for our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, arguably most importantly, we need to do things that bring meaning and light into our lives – things like hanging out with friends, going to concerts, and throwing parties – because this is the only way that we will be able to continue mourning and fighting.
Remember that joy is at the heart of revolution.