I’m So Proud Of You.

Dear Reader, I would like to think that Pride month isn’t meant for us to solely take pride in ourselves. Instead, I like to think that it is a time to show how proud we are of one another; and so I dedicate this article to you.

Look at all that you’ve overcome. Look at the bright loving person you’ve become. Look at how much your heart has strengthened.

Dear reader, I wanted to take an opportunity to remind you to reflect and pat yourself on the back. Our journeys have not been easy. We have lost family, homes, and even lives in order to exercise our hearts freely. Even with those losses, we have gained so much more freedom. We have chosen to be truly who we are no matter the risk. That is courage.

We have somehow mastered living outside of the box. So much so, that others are now thriving here in the safe space we’ve created. We have loved ourselves so well that we didn’t miss the love taken away.

Through protests, marching, crying, and laughing, we have gone from one civil battle, to another. We have come out victorious with battles within, and we have manage to give to others, the very thing we needed ourselves.

We became nurturers creating homes to take in those who thought they were alone in this world. We have earned a pride that should have been given to us naturally. I may not know you, but I am proud of you.

Dear Reader, I am proud of you. Even when you were broken you mended others. Even when you were sad you provided laughter. Even when you were unsafe you provided safety. You kept secrets, your sacrificed, you loved unconditionally.

You have done so much goodness for others, and you have managed to remain unscathed by the negative connotations associated with being LGBTQ+. That is resilience.

We color the world. Even when the world tried to bleach out the very fabric that we have woven, treating us as if a blemish to the American flag, we painted our rainbows.

We are music, we are dance, we are culture, we are history, and we are future.

I salute you. A soldier in the war for love. ready to give all in order to belong to the energy that you deserve.

Dear Reader, you have been an ally. Even though you didn’t understand why we loved the way we loved. You joined so many of us to create a barrier between the world and our rights. I am proud to call you friend. Your kindness and caring gestures provided a warmth that helped us set fire to the trails that we would blaze.

Dear Reader, I encourage you to look in the mirror at who you’ve become and show compassion to yourself; to be resilient in the face of change, and then to show a selfless pride in your neighbor. We are us!

Dear reader, through my experiences; through my journey; through my struggles; I have leaned on the reality that we are all in this together. This Pride month, I am proud to share my love with all of you.

In memory, in recognition, and in love I wish you a happy Pride Month.

#Nowplaying Drake – Make Me Proud