Pride Month comes to a close this week, and we have to say, it's been a blast. But this time of the year isn't just about throwing the biggest, gayest, most rainbow-filled month-long shindig possible (though we certainly haven't stopped trying). The history that led us to Pride is about a struggle for visibility, an unwillingness to give up fighting for it, and an unbreakable sense of love and identity — all of which lasts far beyond the month of June.
In fact, ask a group of people from the LGBTQ community what the term "pride" means to them, and they'll each tell you something different. So that's what we did: asked R29 staffers who identify as LGBTQ to give us their perspectives on pride. Ahead, read what they said — and check out a few of the original images their words inspired us to create.
What does pride mean to you?
"Recognising and celebrating how far my community has come and the great struggles my brothers and sisters had to go through in order for me to be the person I am today, while acknowledging how far we still have to go."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"Standing up for yourself in a courageous way that may not be socially acceptable."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"I'm basically the gayest of the gays so pride, for me, will always be connected to the queer community. It means being out and visible as a lesbian whenever I can and feel safe to be. It means talking about my identity no matter how uncomfortable it makes other (straight) people. It means calling people out for the homophobic things they say (again, when I feel safe to do so)."
Photographed by Nicole Maroon.
"Being yourself, unapologetically."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"Pride means feeling happy with the wonderful life my wife and I have created together."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"Love."
Photographed by Nicole Maroon.
"I'm a bisexual woman, and sometimes pride month is hard for me, as I am in a relationship with a cis male. But to be proud of who I am through and through means no hiding, and no embarrassment. I'm always the first person to answer questions, be a champion for bi women, and be open of my sexuality regardless of my relationship status."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
How do you show or support pride in your life?
"By unapologetically being true to who I am, speaking out when I hear a homophobic [or] transphobic comment or action, showing up to rallies and screaming as loud as I can, walking down the street in drag even if I feel uncomfortable at times."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"Wearing my hair its all its curly glory; going braless and letting my nipples free when I want; PDA."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"When I first came out I sported as many rainbow and queer pins as I possibly could, which I think a lot of queer people do when they just really want people to recognise their identities. I don't do that anymore because I realise that I can show my pride for the queer community even if most people walking down the street have no idea that I'm gay [...] by being confident in and talking about my identity."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"Tasteful acts of subversion — speaking up for those who are afraid to use their voice, answering questions about my sexuality and asking my own, and, mostly, being a support system for those people in my life that don't always have a shoulder to cry on or a place to stay when things go bad in their life."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"Living my truth."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
If you could illustrate pride in one way, how would you?
"I think of the rainbow flag. I also envision people marching for what they believe in, whether that is gay rights, women's rights or Black Lives Matter. To be proud is to be active for what you believe in and stand for."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"The classic fist in the air."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"I don't think it's necessary to be decked out head to toe in rainbows to show your pride as a queer woman. It just looks like me (and other queer people) taking up space as the fabulous femme lesbian I am."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.
"Holding my boyfriend's hand in public."
Photographed by Nicole Maroon.
"A rainbow pirate holding all the pride flags (the pink and purple bi flag, trans flag, and rainbow) with one leg up on a barrel of wine."
Photographed by Stephanie Gonot.Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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