Pride Month: A Celebration of Love, Courage, and Belonging

By Ron Henson, LPC

Every June, cities and towns come alive with color. Rainbow flags wave, music fills the air, and people gather to celebrate. At first glance, Pride Month might look like a party. And in many ways, it is a celebration. It is a time to honor love, courage, and community.

But if you look closer, you will see that Pride is about much more than a parade or a festival. Pride is a reminder that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and safe. It is about people who have faced rejection, fear, and loss, yet still choose to show up in the world as their full selves.

Pride is not only for the LGBTQ+ community. It is for all of us. Because Pride is about the human right to live and love freely.

Pride is Born from Struggle

Pride did not begin as a celebration. It began as a protest.

For many years, LGBTQ+ people were told to stay quiet. They were told they did not belong. They lost jobs, homes, and families just for being themselves. Pride was born out of the need to say, we are here, and we deserve to be treated with dignity.

That message is still just as important today.

Imagine living every day with the fear that being honest about who you are could cost you the people you love. Imagine having to hide a part of yourself to stay safe. For many LGBTQ+ people, this is not a memory from the past. It is part of their everyday lives.

Pride is a way to say, you do not have to hide. You are worthy of love and acceptance.

Pride is About All of Us

You do not have to be LGBTQ+ to understand what Pride means.

Think back to a time when you felt left out or misunderstood. Think of a moment when you worried that being yourself might push people away. That ache for connection, the longing to be accepted, is something we all know.

Pride is about making sure no one has to feel that way because of who they are or who they love. It is about building a world where everyone has a place.

Why Pride Still Matters

It is easy to think that we have come far enough, that Pride is no longer needed. But the truth is, many LGBTQ+ people still face discrimination, rejection, and fear.

There are students who cannot safely be themselves at school.
There are adults who worry that coming out at work could cost them their livelihood.
There are families who reject their children for simply being who they are.

Pride is not just a celebration of how far we have come. It is a reminder of the work we still need to do. It calls us to keep showing up for one another.

How You Can Be Part of Pride

You do not have to be LGBTQ+ to make a difference.

You can listen. Let people tell their stories in their own words.
You can learn. Read books, watch films, and seek out voices from the LGBTQ+ community.
You can speak up. When you hear a harmful comment, you can offer a kinder perspective.
You can let the LGBTQ+ people in your life know that they are valued.

Small actions matter. They create ripples of kindness that help the world feel a little safer for everyone.

Pride is a Celebration of Freedom

Pride is not just a month. It is a movement. It is a promise to keep working for a future where no one has to hide who they are to feel safe.

When we show up for Pride, we are saying that love matters. Freedom matters. Every person deserves to live without fear.

So this June, take a moment to reflect. Remember the people in your life who need to know they are seen, heard, and loved.

Pride is a celebration of love, of courage, and of the strength it takes to be yourself. And that is something we can all believe in.