What Pride Means to Me
It's not about one month out of the year, who you sleep with or being "in your face"—it's about creating a world where everyone feels safe, accepted and loved.
The other day, I was talking with my neighbor, a straight woman with a straight husband and a straight son, about the great big Pride Flag she hangs along the side of her house every June (that’s it above). She told me the reason she does it is simple: “I want some kid riding by on the school bus to know they’re safe, that they’re not alone.”
As someone who once was that kid, feeling unsafe and alone, that resonated deeply.
It is why Pride Month and the Pride Flag matter. They’re not about who you sleep with or being “in your face” but about love, support and community.
Visibility counts. It sends a powerful message to those struggling. It tells them they’re not alone and have people around them who care. It’s a signal of solidarity and a promise that there’s a place for everyone in the world.
Symbols have, throughout human history, had the power to convey messages and emotions that words sometimes cannot. When my neighbor hangs up that colorful piece of cloth, she is making a huge statement:
“I stand with you. I see you. I support you.”
Such allyship is powerful. It shows that the fight for LGBTQ+ rights isn’t just for those who happen to belong to one of those letters but for everyone who believes in equality and justice.
For me, Pride Month and the Pride Flag are deeply personal things. They represent my own journey from fear to acceptance, from hiding to embracing who I am.
They’re also a reminder of the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ people and the unyielding support of my local community, where not just neighbors but local businesses, the Town Hall, even the churches fly the Pride Flag every June.
Pride is about creating a world where everyone feels safe, accepted and loved. It’s about a world where everybody has a place.
Pride is not just a celebration—it’s a movement. And I am honored to be a part of it.