Pride Plans: 4 Things to Keep in Mind for Your Queer Self This Pride
Whether you’re queer, queering the narrative, or questioning if gender is real, pride month is here. And that means it’s time for celebrating our wonderful community. While corporations may try and capitalize on the moment through rainbow-colored bank signs or pride isles in the store, there are many ways to feel connected without feeling commodified. Below are 4 things to remember about pride and your own experience with it:
1. Pride is not the parade
While celebrating in the streets can be a wonderful way to engage in the festivities, there are countless other ways to celebrate it. Do what feels right to you. It could be supporting a local LGBTQ-owned business, inviting your queer friends over for a get together or finding events to volunteer and get involved with this month. It’s the time to connect with our queer siblings and ancestors, however you see fit.
2. Pride can be a time of mourning
We have repeatedly seen and heard the uptick in violence, legislation and anti-LGBTQ laws specifically aimed at the trans community (but always impacting BIPOC folks the most). There have been days and weeks this year that I have felt intense sadness over the state of everything. If pride brings up complicated emotions like anger and sadness, it’s important to honor those feelings. Taking care of yourself during this time is an act of community care. How you personally feel is just as important as those feelings coming from the group celebrations.
3. Get connected with pride in the past
In the same vein as point #2, pride can feel isolating. Even if your circumstances are better than others and you’re able to feel safe and affirmed by your environment, the pressure to feel celebrated or joyful during this month can be overwhelming. If this is the case, try looking into the past to feel connected. Sometimes seeing what it took to get here can be a boost of strength in handling the present. Connecting to our past keeps it from being erased and solidifies ourselves as always being ever present.
4. Pride is a celebration of self
The bottom line? This month is about the people. It’s about what the community was then and what it is now. It’s a moment to connect with parts of ourselves that we have fought and continue to fight for every day. Honoring that is about honoring yourself, your queer joy and a part of your identity that connects us.
And pride isn’t just about the month of June. It’s about living in our queer joy and power every single day. Continue to advocate for your true self. Enjoy the month as best you can and know there are others around you who are doing the same. Q
