We are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, & purple.

FOR US, RED IS LIFE.

Our blood stains red, and it has bled at the hands of bigots, governments, and police for centuries.

Ghastly as it may seem, we are here because of the blood, sweat, and tears of thousands, perhaps millions, of people before us. During Pride, we honor those who fought the good fight as we continue to make the world a more inclusive place one step at a time.

FOR US, ORANGE IS HEALING.

In the closet, we live every second of every day trying to hide our true selves. Our biggest fear is people discovering who we truly are, so we constantly put on a façade to act as someone we are not. We as LGBTQ+ people suffer the repercussions of this: depression, anxiety, internalized homophobia, and so on.

Disentangling this mess often takes us years. But ultimately, it’s worth it to finally be ourselves. Being out, and being proud, is therapeutic. We are in the constant struggle of healing, but during Pride we remember that there is a community of millions like us who will support us at every step of the way.

FOR US, YELLOW IS SUNLIGHT.

The sun is eternal.

We will be queer for as long as the sun will rise. We will be proud for as long as the sun will rise. We will be here for everyone else in the community as long as the sun will rise.

There’s sunlight at the end of the tunnel. Although sometimes it's hard to see, we know it's here, because we are the ones holding the torch.

FOR US, GREEN IS NATURE.

We are natural. Through green we remember that who we are is who we are. Period.

When people try and tell us otherwise, we simply quote Lady Gaga, because “Oh baby, I was born this way.”

FOR US, BLUE IS SERENITY.

Pride is serene. In a world where our identity is not accepted and constantly demonized, self-love is the most powerful force. Let us be at peace with ourselves, and let us take pride in our identity.

FOR US, PURPLE IS SPIRIT.

“You can exhale now, Simon.”

Though millions of people heard that line in theatres, we felt that quote at a visceral level. Our young lives are spent hiding within a husk of a person we are not, forced to live a lie. Finally accepting our identity allows our spirit—smothered for so long—to breathe at last.

Never underestimate the power of a queer person who loves themselves. For those who may not yet, never underestimate the power of a queer community that loves you.

P.S. God is a woman. And gay.

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