For many of us folx in the LGBTQIA+ community, embracing your queerness isn’t always the easiest (or the safest) thing to do. Perhaps, folx have gone through experiences in their lives where it was unquestionably, unacceptable to express themselves in their authentic ways and instead needed to hide aspects of who they are. 

The truth is we live in a society that was set up and still is governed by rules, beliefs, and structured ways of viewing the world that inevitably perpetrates dominant ways of “being,” and oppression resulting from binary and heteronormative/patriarchal/eurocentric viewpoints. The reality is that we live in this structure and that living in this structure can feel – really limiting, suffocating, and confining- And could go against every part of who we really are. So as an LGBTQIA+ person, it can be so challenging to learn how to not only survive within this system, but to thrive as safely and authentically as we can. Yet, time and time again in our hxstory we have witnessed these triumphs and expressions of true authenticity and ownership of identity. And remember, our power and capacity to engage in the world as our true and authentic selves with pride comes from the activism and advocacy of Black and Latinx transwomen (Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera) following the Stonewall Inn Riots in New York that ignited the Gay liberation movements. Along with other activists of the LGBTQ+ movements throughout time, they have fought battles for the space, visibility, and rights to be themselves.

That’s where Pride comes in, as a time not only to remind ourselves that their work is still not yet done, but also as a time to embrace your queerness and share pride in who you are. Embracing your queerness (identity and expression) is in itself a powerful and empowering act. Understandably so, this can be a lifelong process and an ever evolving one. Yet, it is fundamentally important for you to be and express yourself. I tend to believe that we each have this innate capacity and drive to want to discover who we are and then live our lives in our truth. To step into living in your truth as who you really are and expressing yourself is within all of us. So if we were to own our truth and embrace your own queerness – what would that look like? How would your life (if at all) be different? What does it look like to thrive in your authentic expression and embrace your queerness? 

In doing so, you are refusing to hide yourself and choosing instead, to unapologetically be yourself. Why should you? 

Because

• You deserve it 
• You get to choose how you want to live your life
• It’s your birthright to be yourself
• There’s only one of you on this planet
• Your self-expression is powerful, beautiful, and unique 
• Who invented these binary views of gender and sexuality anyways?
• LGBTQ+ folx need to see it
• Younger generations need to see it
• Our society needs to see it

Resources

California LGBTQ+ Health and Human Services Network

Centerlink – Community of LGBT Centers

GLAAD Resource List

The Trevor Project