Happy Pride Month!

Happy Pride Month! June is the month that the LGBT+ community gets to celebrate the freedom to be themselves. Even while equal rights are being fought for in regards to race in our country right now, this is a good time to reflect on the resistance, riots, and marches that increased awareness and have led to great strides in the fight for equal rights in regards to sexuality in the United States.

“When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.” — President Barack Obama

It took more than 40 years from the time of the Stonewall Riots for same-sex marriage to become legal in all 50 states in 2015. Cincinnati began celebrating Pride in the Spring of 1973. I’ve been so incredibly proud of my family and friends in the gay community that have even paused their own celebrations to support the causes of those that are most suppressed right now in their rights – our fellow Americans of color.

Unfortunately, Pride Community Night at Great American Ball Park had to be canceled for June of 2020 and postponed until 2021, due to COVID-19, but that should not stop you in finding ways to celebrate Pride Month! Learn to be an LGBT+ ally as a family.

“Love is love, and love will prevail.”

I wrote a post not too long ago about my very alternative family, and I’m super proud that I grew up in a home where we were challenged to find out WHY we believe what we believe and not just let others tell us what to think about ourselves and the world.

I have the chance to pass this lesson down to my daughter and to let her explore how to look at the world through the lenses of those in the family with different skin colors, religions, sexual orientations, disabilities, etc. She has a safe place to ask all the questions, just like I did. And, I believe she and I are better for it. We love people because of who they are at their core and not because of what they look like, who God is to them, or whom they love. The world needs more of that. 

It seems like ages ago when we went out to celebrate Pride just last Summer with my Dad, his boyfriend, and my nephew. Even though we can’t all get together in June like past years, I can at least do my part to show support by writing articles such as this.

Your family may not be quite so as diverse as mine, but you can still build a respect into your children for all people in our world. One quote I just love comes from Chris Colfer, and it is so very true.

“There’s nothing wrong with you. There’s a lot wrong with the world you live in.”

Even if you don’t have anyone in your direct circle that is part of the LGBT+ community, you can still find ways to share a little more love this month in honor of all those that are.