Voices of Pride Month 2019

June 30th marks the end of Pride Month 2019. And amidst the parades, the social media posts, and all the rainbow paraphernalia, I always found myself wondering about the meaning behind Pride.

I have never really seized the opportunity to ask any of my friends who identify as LGBTQ+ what it means to them— to hold that as a part of their identity and be proud of it. I felt pretty unknowledgeable about it all. And with the work I love to do around social justice, it’s awkward to be unfamiliar with a certain area. But it’s something we all have to identify within ourselves, as uncomfortable as it is, so that we can learn what we need to and grow. And as much as we all love to attend the Pride parades, parties, and events— I would imagine I’m not the only one who would benefit from some perspective on the subject.

I reached out to some folks within my network to hear their experiences, with the goal of sharing that with others. Ultimately, I think — no matter how informed, educated, and experienced you are — we can all benefit from hearing others’ personal truths and voices. It’s the crux of any type of social justice and community work: the most important part, but also one of the most difficult.

I loved the experience of collecting these narratives and designing around it, and I hope you do too! Thank you to all who participated and for sharing your light with all of us.