Weird Pride Flag A waveform with a big trough is shaded under the curve with a rainbow gradient from violet on the left to yellow on the right. A grey peak rises from the trough. Together, the trough and the leak evoke a letter W.

Weird

Weird Pride Flag” by Ferrous and Autistamatic

Be proud of what you are.

We’re weird, and we’re glad we are.

Weird Pride Promo 2021

Autistic Pride is inconceivable without weird pride, and it’s hard to be proud of any kind of neurodivergence without it. A lot of neurodivergent kids learn early on that they’re ‘weird’. The lucky ones learn to embrace it before they’re forced to internalise the implied shame.

@MxOolong

Creativity is driven by divergent perspectives, and squashed by demands for conformity. That doesn’t stop people bullying those they see as weird, trying to hammer them into something resembling normality. But weirdness is rarely a choice. It can be hidden but not opted out of.

@MxOolong

Let’s be proud of what we are.

Hey you!

Yes you.

Are you weird?

Are you sure about that?

Has anybody misunderstood you?

And they called you names because your mind works differently than theirs?

Did you find it upsetting?

Then you’re weird!

And that makes you one of us.

Weird people like you aren’t alone because there are millions of us everywhere.

Weird Pride Promo 2021 – YouTube
Weird Pride Lightning Talk

Let’s join together.

Finding our community, our mob you might say,
This is our family, where we can work and play.
Here among these people, as aliens we bring,
This is where my heart can rest, and my soul can sing.
Yes I am autistic, ADHD too,
Yes I am dyspraxic, and I just may do.
But even if you're not like me,
Even if we don't agree,
We can be friends in this place,
It's called acceptance of our race.

Acceptance of our culture,
The way we operate,
The way our passions give us joy,
The way we love and create.

It might be different from others,
It might not be for you,
But this is where we thrive and give,
Where in relationship we live.

Come Join Me!

Belonging Mutants Seers and me

Let’s celebrate weird pride.

The first ever Weird Pride Day was on the 4th of March, 2021, and the second was on the 4th of March, 2022. At the risk of being predictable, the third will be on Saturday the 4th of March, 2023.

This is a day for people to embrace their weirdness, and reject the stigma associated with being weird. To publicly express pride in the things that make us weird, and to celebrate the diversity of humankind.

Weird Pride Day. Weird Pride Day is every 4th of March. | by Ferrous, aka Oolong | Medium

There is a lot of stigma attached to the concept of weirdness, and a lot of effort is spent chasing some idea of ‘normal’. This is harmful for everyone who’s perceived as weird, and that often includes immigrants, disabled people, queer and trans people and those with minority religious and ethical beliefs. It also includes just about everyone who’s neurodivergent, be they autistic, dyspraxic, dyslexic, ADHD, or otherwise different of brain. Weirdmisia — hatred of the weird — is the enemy of diversity.

I see Weird Pride as a necessary counter to the prevailing negativity about weirdness, so I’m inviting all weirdos and even non-weirdos* to write, talk, tweet and make art about how they’re weird, and why that’s okay.

Weird Pride Day. Weird Pride Day is every 4th of March. | by Ferrous, aka Oolong | Medium

We’re here. We’re weird. Get used to it.

We’re here. We’re weird. Get used to it.

People fear what they can’t categorise. To the extent that queerphobia is about the persecution of those perceived as different, it is a type of weirdmisia, a category of hatred that I think we need to start naming: hate for the weird.

Weird Pride means refusing to accept that our weirdness is something we should hide or train ourselves out of. It means standing up for the value of diversity, standing against the stigma being someone who doesn’t quite fit, and standing with others who’ve had similar experiences. I’m proud to be queer, I’m proud to be autistic, and I’m proud to be a damn weirdo. I didn’t choose to be who I am, but I choose to live with it. I choose not to be ashamed.

We’re here. We’re weird. Get used to it.
And the sign says "long hair freaky people need not apply"
So I put my hair under my hat and I went in to ask him why
He said you look like a fine outstanding young man I think you'll do
So I took off my hat I said "Imagine that Huh Me working for you"
Now, hey you, mister, can't you read?
You've got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat
You can't even watch, no, you can't eat
You ain't supposed to be here

The sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside

Ugh!
So I got me a pen and a paper
And I made up my own little sign
I said, "Thank you, Lord, for thinkin' 'bout me
I'm alive and doin' fine"

Wooo!

Signs by Five Man Electrical Band and Tesla

What makes us different, makes all the difference in the world.

Randimals assemble in a huddle while other toys mock them
What and who are you?
You don’t fit in here.

Randimals Book

Our friends and allies at Randimals have a saying,

What makes us different, makes all the difference in the world.

Randimals

We agree. Difference is a teacher, and we weirdos learn from and with each other.

Seadog

Diversity is strength. Difference is a teacher. Fear difference, you learn nothing.

Hannah Gadsby: Nanette
What makes us different, makes all the difference in the world.
Seadog Sea Lion + Dog Randimal
Sea Dog

“What makes us different, makes all the difference in the world.”

Ellarilla Elephant + Gorilla Randimal
Ellarilla

We call ourselves Warriors and Weirdos.

We weirdos are warriors, for inclusion and acceptance.

Let love conquer your mind
Warrior, warrior
Just reach out for the light
Warrior, warrior
I am a warrior-ior-ior-ior-ior
Warrior, warrior
I am a warrior-ior-ior-ior-ior
Warrior, warrior of love

Underneath darkened skies
There's a light kept alive

Let love conquer your mind
Warrior, warrior
Just reach out for the light
Warrior, warrior
I am a warrior-ior-ior-ior-ior
Warrior, warrior
I am a warrior-ior-ior-ior-ior
Warrior, warrior of love
Warrior of love
Warrior of love

--Warrior by AURORA

We call ourselves Warriors and Weirdos.

Hork: Shark + horse Randimal
Hork
Eagert: Eagle + Leopard Randimal
Eagard

Nobody’s a nobody and everybody is weird like you and me!

You're my half brother and my fully-fledged friend!
We're buddies forever from beginning to the end
Nobody's a nobody and everybody is weird like you and me!

Don't have to look beside me to know that you are there!
If two things act as one are they still a pair?
Nobody's a nobody and everybody is weird like you and me!

I'm the sugar you're the lemons we're a weird lemonade
But you're the brothers that I'd never trade
Nobody's a nobody and everybody is weird like you and me!

You're my right hand guy and the shoulder that I cry on
My brain when I'm confused, an arm to lean a while on
Nobody's a nobody and everybody is weird like you and me!
You can walk, run, swim, roll, hop, skip, or fly
If we're going different ways, you're my kind of guy
Difference doesn't matter, if nobody's the same
There is no two clouds alike in the great big sky

So don't be scared to come out your shell too
There's always someone out there to love the real you
Nobody's a nobody
And everybody is weird like you and me

You can walk, run, swim, roll, hop, skip, or fly
If you're going different ways you're my kind of guy
Difference doesn't matter, If nobody's the same
A space for every star in the great big sky

Nobody’s a nobody and everybody is weird like you and me!

The Amazing World of Gumball – Nobody’s A Nobody
Hard toy of Hamlion, a Randimal that combines a hamster and a lion
Hamlion

Further reading,


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