AF Culture | PRIDE 2019

Happy Pride, Fox Fam! Pride is a special time of year where we celebrate LGBTQ+ folks from all walks of life, remembering those who have come before us while looking forward to a brighter future for everyone. But Pride really can mean a lot of things - for every person, there’s a unique perspective on it. Last week we asked you what Pride means to you. Every response was perfect in its own way, but these are some of our favorites we’d like to share and celebrate with you!

Danielle (@solaraurae) is spot on - Pride is about togetherness and community, coming together to create a safe haven.

Nothing cheesy at all! I think @mindy_supergreen is definitely onto something - Pride is cultural and communal, yet at the same time deeply personal.

Pride definitely helps me feel like a badass, too, just like Tea Langton (@soullpxnk)!

Ella Diane (@moodringhair) is serving some Pride realness - it’s so much more than just a word, or even just a month out of the year.

I love Stephanie’s (@_stephanie_esposito) thoughts! The first step of Pride is being PROUD of yourself and your beautiful community.

@canned_bananas is SLAYING me with this answer! We’re here, we’re queer, and we won’t take no for an answer!!

Marissa Mortati (@grotesqueegomania)’s perspective is so important to remember - the first Pride was a riot. All the celebrations we have now wouldn’t be possible without those brave souls who first stood up for all of us!

What a response! I was getting a little misty-eyed myself after reading @missxinxgold’s sweet, poignant thoughts. This one’s a little longer than the rest, but well worth the read!

I just adore how Denisse (@denissesilvamx) put it - love’s too big to be in a closet!

Sharing our stories is such an important part of Pride, too. All our stories may be different, but just like Isa (@isarallon) says, that’s what connects us all as a community.
What does Pride mean to you, Fox Fam? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments! As for me, I have a lot of thoughts about Pride, as you might have guessed! But I think to me, Pride most means celebrating the unique, individual perspective each of us brings to the LGBTQ+ community. It means honoring our LGBTQ+ elders who are a testament to how far we’ve come, and remembering the elders we’ve lost to AIDS, to violence, to time, whose sacrifices should never be forgotten. It means refusing to feel the shame a religious upbringing has told me I’m supposed to have. It means reminding my chosen family how much I love and appreciate them, and holding my partner’s hand a little tighter as we navigate life together. And most of all, it means being proud to be me! Fox Fam, I hope you’re proud to be you, too!
