Pride Is More Than a Party: Radical Joy, Resistance, and the Power of Being Seen

Each June, rainbows sweep across storefronts, Instagram feeds bloom with celebration posts, and cities erupt in parades. And while Pride Month does indeed include glitter, music, and joyful expression—it is also sacred. Pride is more than a party. It is a powerful act of resistance, of reclaiming space, of healing, of radical self-love. And we must never forget: Pride was born out of protest, led by Black and Brown trans and queer individuals who risked their lives to declare that we are worthy. That we are beautiful. That we deserve to be seen.

What Is Pride?

Pride is both personal and political. It is the unapologetic celebration of LGBTQIA+ identity. It is a refusal to hide. It is a loud, messy, holy declaration that queer people have always existed—and we are not going anywhere.

Pride means:

• Releasing the burden of being closeted
• Claiming our right to joy
• Honoring our queer ancestors
• Creating chosen family
• Protecting trans lives
• Fighting for racial justice, gender freedom, and healthcare equity

Pride is not just about who we love. It is about how we live—in truth, in love, and in community.

The Roots of Resistance

The first Pride was not a party. It was a riot.

In June 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, police conducted another in a long line of brutal raids targeting queer spaces. But that night, the community fought back. Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman, and Sylvia Rivera, a Latina trans activist, stood at the front lines. They weren’t just resisting police brutality—they were declaring their existence sacred in a world that treated them as disposable.

Pride is rooted in that moment. In survival. In the fierce, fiery love of Black and Brown queer and trans people who have always fought for us.

Why Pride Still Matters

For many LGBTQIA+ people, especially queer and trans people of color, Pride is a lifeline.

It’s about:

• Self-worth: Undoing the shame instilled by homophobia, transphobia, and patriarchy
• Safety: Demanding legal protections, safe housing, and healthcare
• Community: Finding chosen family after rejection from biological relatives
• Mental health: Healing from trauma and celebrating survival

Coming out is not a one-time event. Every day, we are navigating systems not built for us. Being proudly queer, trans, or nonbinary is an act of resistance and resilience.

The Power of Chosen Family

One of the most radical concepts in queer life is chosen family—the deep, soul-level connection between people who choose to love and uplift each other.

Whether your biological family accepts you or not, chosen family reminds you that you are never alone. These are the friends who affirm your gender. The elders who see you. The community members who bring food when you’re sick, who celebrate your wins, who hold you through grief.

Chosen family is sacred queer love.

Releasing the Mental Burden of Being Closeted

Being closeted—or partially closeted—can create a constant, invisible weight.

It’s the voice in your head that says: Don’t act too gay. Don’t correct them when they use the wrong pronouns. Don’t tell your coworker about your partner. That voice is survival. And also, it takes a toll.

Pride is a chance to breathe. To stop shrinking. To honor the courage it takes to be visible, even if only to yourself. Visibility doesn’t always mean public parades. It can mean journaling your truth. Wearing a flag pin. Telling one trusted friend.

Pride can mean taking a deep breath and saying, I am not broken.

Activities to Celebrate Pride (Whether You’re Out or Not)

Whether you’re a parade-goer, a quiet celebrant, or somewhere in between—there are infinite ways to honor Pride. Here are meaningful, intentional ways to celebrate:

1. Write a Letter to Your Younger Self

Tell that scared, closeted, curious version of you what you’ve learned. What you’ve survived. What you’re proud of.

2. Support a Black or Brown Queer Artist

Buy their art, share their work, or tip them directly. Our movement was built by artists, poets, drag performers, sex workers, and culture-makers.

3. Volunteer with a Local LGBTQ+ Organization

Offer your time, resources, or professional skills. Many organizations need grant writers, social media support, or event volunteers.

4. Donate to Mutual Aid Funds

Especially those supporting trans people of color, housing-unstable youth, or people seeking gender-affirming care.

5. Curate a Queer Film or Book Night

Choose films or books that center queer joy, Black trans brilliance, or stories of resistance. Discuss them with friends. Reflect on what Pride means to each of you.

6. Wear Something That Makes You Feel Free

A pronoun pin. A crop top. A binder. Lipstick. A flag. Pride can live in fashion. Dress for the person you’re becoming.

7. Throw a Chosen Family Potluck

Gather your people. Cook your cultural foods. Share stories. Light candles for queer ancestors.

8. Create a “Pride Altar”

Honor queer trailblazers. Include photos, candles, poems, or personal items. Make it a sacred space to reflect and remember.

9. March With Intention

If you attend a parade, don’t just show up—show up with purpose. Carry a sign for your community. Chant. Educate others.

10. Rest. Yes, Rest.

Rest is revolutionary. Rest is resistance. Pride can be a soft exhale in your room, wrapped in a blanket, whispering, “I am enough.”

The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Queerness

There is no Pride without intersectionality.

Too often, mainstream Pride centers whiteness, cisgender bodies, and capitalism. Meanwhile, trans women of color are still being murdered. Queer youth are still unhoused. Black queer people are still policed in public and private.

True Pride must be rooted in liberation for all of us. That means:

• Fighting for reproductive justice and bodily autonomy
• Uplifting disabled queer folks
• Centering undocumented queer stories
• Naming police violence as an LGBTQ+ issue
• Ending the erasure of trans, nonbinary, and intersex people

Affirming Mental Health and Self-Esteem

Living out and proud is powerful—but it can also be exhausting. Many LGBTQ+ people carry trauma, internalized shame, and isolation. Healing is essential.

This Pride, ask yourself:

• What do I believe about my worth?
• Who taught me those beliefs?
• What parts of me have I silenced to feel safe?
• Who sees me fully—and how can I spend more time in that light?

Healing is a journey. And it’s not linear. But you are deserving of joy, pleasure, rest, and love at every step.

Pride as Love: Loving Yourself, Accepting Yourself

Pride is loving yourself on days you feel glorious, and on days you feel broken. Pride is knowing you are worthy whether you are out or still finding your way.

Pride is love. Love for self. Love for your community. Love that resists erasure. Love that heals.

Link to Soul 2 Soul Global: Queer Joy as Spiritual Work

At Soul 2 Soul Global, we believe in healing from the inside out. Our mission is to help people break free from fear, shame, and generational trauma—so they can live with clarity, power, and purpose.

For LGBTQIA+ people, especially Black and Brown queer folks, this is sacred work. Soul 2 Soul affirms that:

• Your pleasure is divine.
• Your healing is revolutionary.
• Your joy is part of your purpose.

We offer spiritual coaching, trauma-informed resources, and workshops that celebrate your whole self. Pride is not just a month—it’s a lifestyle of liberation.

Final Words: Your Pride Is Sacred

You don’t need a parade to be proud. You don’t need a flag to be queer enough. You don’t need to be out to everyone to be valid.

Your existence is a miracle.

Your joy is protest.

Your rest is radical.

Your love is real.

Your Pride is yours.

Wherever you are on your journey—know that you belong. This Pride Month and always, celebrate in a way that honors your story, your ancestors, and your truth.

From Soul 2 Soul to your soul: You are already whole.