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There is no doubt that the celebration of Pride continues to grow in visibility and popularity. If you walk into almost any store during June, you will find sections stuffed with Pride t-shirts, flags, and rainbow everything. Seeing these items in a space and knowing that my identity is respected, valued, and celebrated can be a good feeling. However, I think behind all the rainbows, the true meaning of Pride is often overshadowed or overlooked by big corporations looking to capitalize on the celebration.

To me, Pride is about being unapologetically yourself, no matter how the world might perceive you. That encompasses everyone and everything — it’s about loving who you are, not regardless of but�����𳦲��ܲ��� of your gender identity, sexual identity, skin color, or body size.

Pride is also about community and defending the more vulnerable and marginalized community members. Not only are LGBTQ+ members perceived and judged by the outside world, but they are also criticized within our community. At the heart of the Gay Liberation Movement were brown, black, queer, trans, and lesbian activists. However, their work often went unnoticed, as our culture was more likely to accept gay white men and women than a Latin trans woman or a butch black lesbian — people whose LGBTQ+ identities intersect with their oppression as part of other marginalized groups.

Unfortunately, this behavior and attitude continue today. A large portion of people still accept marriage equality rights for gay individuals but do not support the rights of trans people to live or exist safely and fully. We have seen legislation passed nationwide, including in our state, targeting trans people. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I challenge everyone to learn more about the Gay Liberation Movement and all the activists who worked tirelessly to get us where we are today and to keep fighting for the rights and lives of those in my community who are continuously targeted.

Recommended resources:

Movies:

• Paris is Burning (1990)
• Milk (2008)
• Moonlight (2016)
• The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)
• How to Survive a Plague (2012)

TV Shows:

• Pose (2018-2021)

Articles: