Pride comes in many different forms, shapes, and sizes. The Oxford dictionary defines pride as a feeling of being pleased or satisfied that you or people who are connected to you, have done something well, or can be something others admire. In summary, pride can be many things, from being proud of a variety of experiences to be glad to have a certain label. Pride Month is considered all of those definitions in one. Pride Month celebrates and recognizes the LGBTQ+ communities’ effect on the world. 

Pride month was first established in the United States after the Stonewall riots, also called the Stonewall uprising, which occurred at the end of the 1960s around the month of June. The Stonewall riots consisted of a series of riots and protests responding to police brutality towards the gay community. The name stems from the inn located right next to where the protests took place. This movement pushed the LGBTQ+ community to openly fight against events that would allow them equal rights, like the gay liberation and LGBT rights movements. 

This June, Dallas took its own turn at expressing its pride by hosting Texas’s pride parade right in the middle of Fair Park. The parade included several attractions such as the multiple floats sponsored by supporting businesses and the general public, multiple drag queens and other important figures in pride, along with vendors selling pride merchandise, while also handing out plenty of free souvenirs. In addition to attractions, members of the LGBTQ+ community and multiple allies to the community all came together in support of their pride, making the parade population immense. 

Sophomore Lin Howard attended said pride parade and expressed her experience there, “My experience was actually was actually really great,” Howard said. “I really liked meeting people! I ended up meeting a large amount and made plenty of friends. There really is a community amongst those at the pride parade, a sense of trust even.” 

My personal experience with this year’s celebration of pride was a little different than I thought it would be. When the month of June rolled around, I just so happened to be located in Italy, making it a little different from what I was used to. I was in an abnormal place in which I hadn’t known whether or not they celebrated pride month, let alone celebrate the month, to begin with. Luckily, I happened to be surrounded by love and support from both my family, friends and even the lovely Italian strangers I passed on the way. Even if it wasn’t ideal, It still filled me with joy and I can’t wait for next year’s pride month to come. 

Junior Makai Bettone graciously shared their experience during pride month with me. She said he ended up working hard to earn money at his job in order to take his friends to dinner and even participated in a bonfire with more of his friends and considered the experience a very pride-filling one. Next pride month, Bettone plans to go to a pride festival with their friends because he will officially be eighteen years old. “My definition of pride,” Bettone said, “is being able to feel confident in who you are and expressing yourself in so many different and unique ways.”