Co-authored by David Auten, author, blogger and speaker for Debt Free Guys and host of Queer Money.
When same-sex marriage was legalized last June, I admit I breathed a sigh of relief. The naïve part of me believed the fight was over. "We're all equal now," I thought. My partner of twelve years, David Auten, and I sat close together, glued to the TV while we soaked up all the same-sex marriage coverage we could.
We didn't get to bed that night until midnight, which is a feat for two people used to going to bed at 9 p.m. It was too exciting to miss. We felt equal.
Then Kim Davis happened and we dismissed her as desperately clinging to the past. Then debates about pizza and cake happened that seemed more farce than folly. Then Indiana almost happened, but didn't. Then Mississippi and North Carolina happened and shit got real.
Then Orlando happened.
Was I naïve? Was the fight not over? Yes, and it isn't. That's why David and I believe the queer community must take as much pride in our individual finances as we do in our uniqueness, gender identities and sexual orientations. One of the strongest tools we have is our voice, and often that voice requires money. Our causes and initiatives must continue the fight for equality, but they cannot do so without a financially strong community supporting them.
As much as possible, we must be financially independent and not reliant on other individuals or institutions. In this world, money talks and queers must be heard.
That's why we created The Queer Money Show. On this episode of Queer Money, we talked with another Huffington Post contributor, CFP David Rae, about gay pride and financial prejudice. Below are highlights to consider during this month of Pride to help strengthen and empower the queer community.
Financial Security Is Freedom
From our research, the queer community is consistently concerned about retirement savings and paying off debt. While these concerns are standard in general society, it's important for queer people to address them and strengthen our finances so that we can fund our fight for equality and have the freedom of time to fight for equality.
Keep It Long and Sticky
David Rae points out the importance of having emergency savings and funding our retirements. With both reasonably in place, we're free to use our residual income to improve our quality of life. We should avoid improving our quality of life to the detriment of our security and future.
The Biggest Thing
It comes down to one thing. Once we know this, everything else falls into place.
Two Tricks
David Auten shares two simple tricks that he and I used when we climbed out of $51,000 of credit card debt. Both tricks can be used to manage our money over Pride and every other day of the year.
This is how we take pride in our finances and overcome LGBTQ prejudice.