That's because June is here; which means it's Pride month for the LGBTQ+/Queer community!
While Pride is a year long experience, I view Pride month similarly to other holidays I celebrate like Halloween and Christmas. With Halloween in October, I often watch a lot more horror movies and dress up in different costumes. However, I don't just watch horror movies and dress up in October but do these activities all year long because I enjoy them. The same is true for Christmas. In December, I shop and purchase gifts for my family and friends because it is a holiday that reminds us of the joy of giving onto others. But I still give gifts to my family and friends during the other months of the year as well.
Pride is the same. It's important to celebrate Pride all year long, but it's also important to celebrate your Pride openly in June as well.
I came out of my closet when I was in college. Like all individuals who come out of their closets, it was a scary period because when you come out of the closet, you are making the choice to be seen authentically by everyone in your life. The questions of "Once they see who I 'really am' will they still accept me? Want me? Love me?" It's a type of trauma that no one should ever have to experience but is too common in the LGBTQ+ community.
Unfortunately, when I came out, my mother had already passed away. So I never had the opportunity to come out to her and reveal that I am gay. Thankfully, this is not a source of grief for me.
I was extremely close with my mother. She was my biggest advocate growing up and made me the better person that I am today. And she was very liberal. When I was a teenager, I heard her talk openly about her support for the LGBTQ+ community and her frustration at the exclusion that they faced in the church and in the world. This knowledge and experience gives me relief, because if I did have the chance to come out to my mom, I know she would accept me, want me, and love me fully.
This is why Pride matters, for not just LGBTQ+ people, but for everyone.
It matters to me personally because it gives me a chance to affirm my wonderful identity as a gay cisgender man.
It matters also because it reminds me that I must be an ally for other people who are also same-gender loving, transgender, non-binary, pansexual, and queer as well. To express my love and support as well.
And it matters to straight cisgender persons because you may know someone who is LGBTQ+ and Queer who is in need of your love and support.
Children and Teenagers are extremely observant and they are looking for clues to know if they will be loved and supported for their queer identities from their families. By supporting Pride, both in June and throughout the year, you are loving your children and possibly someone else's children if they know they do not have a safe family to come out to.
So I hope this month and year you will express your support of Pride.
I support Pride and I hope anyone who is LGBTQ+ and Queer feels safe around me to come out to because I will love you, affirm you, and support you as the wonderful human being that you are born as.
Peace and Blessings be with you all and Happy Pride!
