As LGBT Americans, Does the 4th of July "belong" to Us?

The fourth of July is here, and Americans all around the country are celebrating with barbecues and fireworks. But for many Americans, Independence Day celebrations can be difficult. In the queer community, many of us are conflicted as to how we should feel about the holiday. Is it right to celebrate American freedom when we, ourselves, don't enjoy the same freedoms as others? When we think of the ongoing battle for marriage equality, the struggle for justice in the military, the friends of ours who have been deported due to unfair immigration laws, and the discrimination many endure in the workplace, it is frustrating, at the very least, for us to stand up and pay tribute to the Land of the Free.

How, then, can we reconcile our identity with our sense of national pride? Is it even possible to take pride in one's gender and sexual identity while maintaining a sense of loyalty to a country that deems us less deserving because of it?

As we recite the words of the Declaration of Independence, we have to question what its message means for us not only as Americans, but also as members of the LGBT community. Our country, after all, is a place where all men are created equal -- but not all men are considered men. This problem is not unique to the LGBT community, and as we look back at history, it seems to arise again and again. What does "equality" mean for women or for African-Americans? What does "liberty and justice for all" mean for those of us not included in "all"?

Perhaps if we look back at historic acts of heroism in our country, we will find an answer. For Susan B. Anthony, American herosim meant fighting for women's suggrage, allowing women to become involved in the politics governing their own lives. For Martin Luther King, Jr., another American hero, the beauty of American liberty was the ability to protest for civil rights. For us -- members of the LGBT community -- patriotism took the form of a protest against police violence at the Sonewall Inn. Since those riots in 1969, our protest hasn't stopped. And nothing could be more American.

For LGBT Americans, the fourth of July should not be discouraging. It should not alienate us or make us feel unpatriotic. Instead, it should remind us that through our protests and struggle for equal rights, we are promoting none other than our country's core values: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The most "American" act we can carry out on this day is not to put aside our frustrations and values for the sake of a national celebration, but to instead continue our march towards equality and show our country how to truly embrace our patriotic spirit.