Pride Proud by Jazzmyn Proctor
It’s officially summer time! I hope you have been enjoying the beautiful weather with friends, family, and loved ones. I have been using every moment I can to bask in the sun. Whether I am reading a book (currently working through Untamed by Glenn Doyle), working out, or enjoying precious moments with loved ones, I find that my weeks are significantly better when I have spent at least an hour a day outside. I mostly accomplish that with my morning workouts, but any extra time I can have outside is a bonus to my week.
Have you ever sat and thought about why Pride month is called Pride month? In general, we know that Pride means to be proud. Pride means to hold your head high and take ownership of what you have accomplished. When we think about Pride month, we think about colorful flags, fun parades, and fun events that are held not only in the month of June, but they sometimes span throughout the entire summer. Well according to Google dictionary, the word pride means “a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.” I love it. LGBTQIA+ individuals have spent years and years being told they are less than for who they love and their gender expression. The community as a whole continues to face adversity both in the public and legislative arenas. The LGBTQIA+ community is one that has continued to fight for their rights to be seen and treated equal to their straight counterparts. From Stonewall to marriage equality to fighting for trans health equity, there is so much for the LGBTQIA+ community to be PROUD of.
Another definition was “consciousness of one's own dignity.” Also love this. Plain and simple- LGBTQIA+ are worthy and deserving of being able to acknowledge their identity and be celebrated. As a queer individual whose coming out journey has come full circle only recently, it was important in my journey to not only be validated by others, but by myself as well. For various reasons, people are not always welcomed with a rainbow carpet when they choose to come out or are even given the space to ever come out. For my own journey, I needed to be aware of my own inherent value before I could believe that others would see me the same way. I need to be conscious of my own worth and value. Only time (and therapy) have allowed me to see the love I have in my life and to transfer that love back to myself.
Whether you are a member of the community, or a fierce ally, I hope you are celebrating Pride not only in June, but 365 days of the year!
Jazzmyn Proctor
