BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – “I don’t think people understand the harm they’re doing when they use words like crazy and nuts to disparage people, and so I’m trying to create a vibration around raising consciousness around who you’re harming through language that yes it’s normalized, but what’s behind it.” said Wilda White, the organizer behind Mad Pride
White says Mad Pride touches much of what our community struggles with: a lack of health care, housing, affordability, the stressors that create a society that lacks the foundation to keep our bodies and minds healthy.
“These are all normal human experiences, and it’s not a reason to shun us. It’s not a reason to ostracize us. It’s not a reason to lock us up. It’s not a reason to under fund health care. It’s not a reason to segregate health care.” she said
Mad Pride, at Battery Park, is a showcase of music, resources and stories about mental health, but it is first and foremost a political movement.
“It’s about advocating for legal policies which protect the rights of people who experience crisis and allow their dignity and their sense of choice to come first whenever possible.” said Betsy Hoekstra
Betsy Hoekstra, a psychiatric survivor herself, is now a peer counselor.
She advocates for individual choice when it comes to psychiatric treatment. From clinical to holistic to community based support, as long as individuals find a way that works for them in their own agency.
“It doesn’t have to be the end of the world, and it doesn’t have to alienate you from society, it’s not going to be the end of your life. It might just be the beginning of a really meaningful period of growth.” said Hoekstra
“We hold Mad Pride events to let people know there’s no reason to live in fear, there’s no reason to live in shame, we hold it to fight discrimination we hold it to show our faces so people who think they’re alone at home know they’re not alone.” said White