I took this photo of Maria just before she went off to Bennington, Vt. to march in the annual Pride Parade and then perform with her fellow Bedeli Belly Dancers as a part of the Pride celebration. I will join her, march in the parade if I’m allowed, and watch her and her fellow dancers – she loves every one of them – perform.

Being Maria, she was nervous about getting dressed this morning, belly dancing is not a simple form, and everything you wear has a meaning of one kind or another. She has been collecting her costume for months and will perform again soon.

I’ll be there also. Belly dancing has come to mean the world to Maria; I believe it began the process wherein she discovered how remarkable she is. She didn’t know; her fellow dancers had supported her from the first day and s kept her skill.

It takes years to learn how to belly dance, a female affirmation dance that is the oldest recorded dance in the world. I’m excited to see her and proud of her. In the dancing clothes, she looked even more radiant than usual.