It’s June, my favorite month. My birthday, the start of Summer, and Pride month. As we all know by now, I live in Southern Utah. The pride community here is still growing. I am 100 percent willing to admit that I have never participated in any of the events that go on around town. It hasn’t felt like the community I needed. When events first started happening, I didn’t feel safe to attend. Now, I don’t attend because the time and place are rarely ever convenient for me. I don’t know a lot of other people in the LGBTQ+ community in my area, but that’s because I just don’t get out much. In my out life I have never purposely hidden who I am. I proudly wear a rainbow pin on my vest at work. I no longer change names and pronouns to make other people comfortable. Why should I have to? I am proud of who I am and I never want others around me to think that I’m ashamed. Unfortunately there are so many people that are ashamed. Why have we as a society belittled people to the point of living double lives? Why can’t we provide the resources of support for people who need it? I was lucky enough to meet Annie on a dating site, and I am so blessed. I feel so deeply for the people who are lost and have no idea where to turn to find someone to love, someone to just be friends with, someone with similar interests. Where do you turn when your interests don’t fall in line with the interests of the majority of the community? I have no idea how people find other people to date in this community. I feel out of touch with my community, and that’s my fault. I’m going to work on being better. I want to be a supportive member, ally, and friend. When I was lost and looking for community I was forced online because there wasn’t an advertised local community. I am so grateful for the community I found there. I am grateful for the ever evolving communities of support I have been able to find online. Every coming out journey is unique, from the reactions of family and friends, to the resources available, to the spiritual or religious journey someone may be on.
My journey is ever evolving and it is currently guiding me to the places I need to be to be a better member of my own local pride community. I would greatly appreciate any resources you might have to help me in this journey so I can help those around me better.
Happy Pride. I hope you all stay safe, and healthy. I also hope you’ll find ways you can help those around you. Pride is more than just a big party. It’s the coming together of communities to support those who need it. For me its always the reminder that I matter, that I am loved, and that I am needed.
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