What Gay Pride Means to Me

June is Gay Pride Month that is celebrated in many places around the world. As a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and as a person of colour, I take this time to reflect on its meaning.

Gratitude & Awareness

Living in Canada as a gay man, I am fortunate to have rights that are denied in other countries: Rights that affirm my humanity and place me on equal footing with my fellow Canadians. 

But I am keenly aware that in some places, being gay is still punishable by prison - or even death. And even in countries that currently uphold gay rights, there are forces pushing to dismantle them, often under the guise of tradition, religion, or morality. 

Pride Is More Than Tolerance

To me,

Gay Pride = Gay Rights = Human Rights = Full Acceptance.

It’s not enough to simply be tolerated - I deserve full acceptance. My sexual identity does not define my morality any more than being straight defines yours. 

I grew up Catholic, with no gay role models, no representation in school, and no mention of homosexuality in books. And yet, here I am - not straight. Why didn’t all those straight influences make me heterosexual?  I wasn’t molested. I didn’t explore my sexuality until adulthood. But even in grade school, I knew I was different. And I knew enough to keep it to myself.  I was born gay.

Faith vs. Force

You may have your religion, and that’s fine—you do you. But don’t impose your beliefs on me. Religion should not dictate my rights, nor should it justify discrimination. 

Please don’t force YOUR beliefs down MY throat.

And if you ask why we "flaunt" our identity in public, what do you mean exactly? Holding my husbands hand? Sharing a small peck on the lips or cheek? Not being ashamed? Perhaps your own reaction holds the answer. If our visibility makes you uncomfortable, that discomfort is yours to reckon with - not ours to suppress.

We Seek Dignity, Not Special Treatment

Pride means different things to different people. But at its core, it is about humanity, dignity, and respect - the same things everyone else wants. 

And to those who spread hate online: Pause for a moment. Listen to your own words. Consider how they might land not just on strangers, but on your own loved ones - your children, your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews - who may already feel different from "the norm." 

Would you rather lose them to silence, shame, or suicide, where your hurtful words tore into them like a sharp knife? Or would you rather be the person they trust enough to turn to for compassion and understanding?

Remember:       We are all God’s children.

With that in mind, perhaps, just perhaps LGBTQIA2S+ people were created as a test of faith - to see whether His followers respond to people like us with love, kindness, compassion, and acceptance. Remember: Love thy neighbour.

A Beacon of Hope

Gay Pride offers visibility and solidarity to those still in the shadows - those afraid to come out, those longing for acceptance for who they truly are, those hoping for a future where they can be their genuine selves without fear of violence, judgment, hatred, or death. 

It’s also a time to acknowledge and remember our history - to remember the fights and struggles like the Stonewall Uprisings and Canada’s Gay Purge amongst many others in history. We share these with the younger generations in hopes that they will remember them and not take what we do have for granted. Hopefully, it does get a lot easier for future generations.

A Complex, Beautiful Celebration

Gay Pride isn’t one thing. It’s many things: Complicated, layered, deeply personal.

I don’t claim my perspective is the only one. But I hope it inspires more compassion, understanding, and civil dialogue - on both sides.

And to my LGBTQIA2S+ family: Happy Pride! ✨ Celebrate who you truly are!

I see you. I love you. I appreciate you.

You, as your true self, are worthy of all the good this world has to offer.