I always look forward to June because it is the month my beautiful daughter was born. Along with her birthday my birthday is also this month and a special day her other mom created for me. But this year I celebrate Pride month. Now I have never been someone that “celebrates” it, but this year is different. Since dating my girlfriend I have been more involved in our community and have really started to embrace it more. I usually like to stay under the radar and keep to myself, and in my own way I still kind of do but am a little more aware and open.

I have tried to raise my daughter to see people and accept them as they are. I know it is hard for kids and that other kids just like adults can be mean, but we are all human and should be treated with love and acceptance. I hope I have done a decent job in showing her and that she can be proud of her parents. People living their truth is not something to be ashamed of. Loving and supporting people we care about is never wrong.

Last year kind of without realizing it I went to my first Pride event with my girl. This year I had people text me wish me a happy Pride month, letting me know I am seen and accepted. Now I have many people in my life that “accept” me but this time it felt different. Now I am in no way discrediting my friends, but coming from people who don’t pick and choose what they accept just gave me comfort. I like to be seen just as me, because I am just me, but listening to people in the Queer community talk, stand up for themselves, walk with confidence, and be so proud of who they are has really hit me.

Another part to me viewing life differently is my girlfriend. I have never felt so seen, loved, accepted, encouraged, and educated by someone actually part of the community. I have learned how to respect peoples pronouns (even more than I already did because it really isn’t that hard people), to acknowledge people in their comfort, and to understand the wide range in which we come. I have always been one to love all, accept everyone, and to be a safe space but I want to be it even more.

For many years I always presented as me but not with the confidence I do now. I was never ashamed of who I was but I always made sure to act accordingly depending on who I was around. I made sure to be careful what I said and to a point, kept my head down. Now I don’t care. I am me everywhere and with everyone. I have had so much fear put in me in my younger years. Being told that I need to be safe when I am out and about, that people with judge me for what I look like, that people will not like me for my life choices, and the hardest was when we had our daughter, being told that we will ruin her life. All of that has stuck with me and guided me in how I lived my life. At times shame, sometimes being an embarrassment to my family, and being judged and looked at when I go places. I am still very cautious of my surrounds and make sure to always pay attention, but I do it more confidently.

What’s sad is that this world is even worse than it was before. We are categorized as mentally ill, still bullied, and looked at like outcasts. The definition of Pride is ; a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired. People, and when I say people I mean the one uncomfortable with anything that they aren’t ok with, make such a big deal over Pride Month. Every day some sort of Pride is being shown or celebrated and someone will always have something to say.

This year I will allow myself to be even more open. To be surrounded by such a community is very refreshing. I am so thankful for the opportunities this last year to see things in such a different light. Love is Love and should not be judged just because you don’t understand it or agree with it. There are people of all lifestyles with no judgement. I am not super political but I do have things that feel right to me and wrong and to be on a side and with a crowd that wants equal rights, to have a choice, and control ourselves just seems right.

Being with such a beautiful soul that has taught me so much, shown me so many new things, and challenges my mind in seeing things in way that just allows me to love and accept all and yet to also be careful with my heart and to make sure I am surrounding myself with people that are open and loving. I am proud of who I am and happy to be with someone who allows me to authentically be me at all times. Someone who loves every bit of me. Someone who communicates with me. Someone who makes me feel so special. It is very different from my last relationship and I am still learning and trying to work on myself in all ways, but to have someone that encourages me in all things and supports me on a daily is so refreshing. That makes me feel Pride so thank you.

Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for loving me and all my quirks. Thank you for opening my eyes and mind. Thank you for all the experience and opportunities. Thank you for introducing me to so many amazing people. I am so proud of you. I see you. I love you. And I welcome this amazing journey you have given me a view of.