What Pride Means to Me
Kris and Joe at their first Pride parade in Washington.
I’ve been hesitant to post “Happy Pride” this year. I’ve seen so many conversations filled with misunderstanding—people questioning why Pride exists, some even calling for it to be removed, along with efforts to erase LGBTQ+ people altogether. It saddens me to witness the shame and negativity being projected onto something that, for many of us, is about survival, healing, and joy. So, I decided to write out what Pride means to me. Maybe it will help someone understand.
Growing up, I was always eccentric and outgoing, which made me an easy target for bullying. I was called gay as early as sixth grade, even though I didn’t yet understand what the word meant or why it was being used against me. I came out in high school, and things got worse. I was pushed, spit on, stolen from, and targeted simply for being gay. But not everything was awful. I had amazing friends who loved me and teachers who truly cared. I was lucky. Not everyone has that. In my earlier years, I started dating but hid any sign of affection that straight couples could show so freely. I never held hands. I didn’t dare kiss in public. I remember being told it was “indecent,” that “nobody needs to see that.” The only place that felt safe was at the Pride festival in the park. For a few days each year, I didn’t have to hide who I was. That feeling changed my life. For over a decade now, I’ve been fortunate to be in love with someone who fills every day with joy and laughter. I knew the moment I met him 12 years ago that he was going to be in my life for a long time. He didn’t care what others thought, and during those early years, he would grab my hand in public. I would pull away out of fear. It takes time to unlearn the belief that I was something shameful or that the way I love is something people shouldn’t have to see. It takes time to believe that I belong in this world just as much as anyone else. Pride Month isn’t exclusive. It’s one of the most inclusive things I know. Almost everyone has or had someone in their life who identifies as LGBTQ+, whether they chose to embrace them or not. Pride gives those who have been rejected by family a place to be seen and to find a chosen family. It gives people the courage to hold their partner’s hand in public for the first time and feel safe doing so. If it weren’t for Pride, my life would look very different. It would be darker. I wouldn’t be the person I am today. Pride helped me unlearn that I am not a monster. I am not broken. I am not disgusting. I am a human being who loves deeply, and that love is something to celebrate. I don’t write this out of bitterness or resentment. I write it out of love. I am scared for the future, but I believe that love will prevail. I will continue to show the world that LGBTQ+ people are a community filled with love, resilience, and joy—and we’re not going anywhere. We will continue to shine brightly in all the colors of the rainbow. Happy Pride. 
June is Pride Month!
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