What does Pride mean to you?
June is Pride. Throughout the month, we will highlight the lasting impact the LGBTQIA+ community has had on the fight for rights and treatment for HIV and AIDS, and offer our appreciation for the advocacy and leadership they have provided since the very beginning.
What does Pride mean to you?
Our advocates share in the following articles:
"When I started navigating the world and accepting me for who I am and saying, this is me, you don't have to accept it but you will respect it, it's when things started making sense to me... life is meant to be lived and celebrated. It is important for you to celebrate yourself and all parts of you because you're beautiful, and I had to learn that the hard way." - Jahlove Serrano, I Got My Pride - https://h-i-v.net/video/celebrate-gay-pride
"One memory I have of that event was being able to dance with all of my friends in one of the dance tents. There were several DJs I liked that also played throughout the duration of pride." - Steven Campa, Stay Proud After Pride - https://h-i-v.net/living/stay-proud-after-pride 
Pride has changed it's meaning to me over the years. What I initially thought was an opportunity to celebrate "us" and share in our community's growth, legal progress, and overall growth. However, I've learned it's not for me, as this is NOT what is happening. Our community has grown to expect acceptance and support, which we should.... However, we're treating each other in such a manner that its not indicative of what we are wanting/expecting, sadly. Thus, I've moved from being engaged in such events and continue to try to and support our community in more true, positive ways.
Hi
. It is important that you do what you are comfortable with and support yourself and others a in such a way. How are you currently doing? Best, Richard (Team Member) 
, I understand your feelings on Pride. Over the years, I have been engaged in and have abstained from the celebration.
I love the many options we now have to support our community. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Good afternoon, Richard. Thank you, I'm doing pretty good. Just staying positive despite all the negative aspects of Kansas City eating away at me, as the supportive services for the LGBTQIA community are hard to get access to, while dealing with poor attitudes towards our community. Its hard to stay positive in communities like this. SMH. However, none of this is new as I've experienced this since I was a toddler being called a "nig!er" in my front yard repeatedly to being harassed as a teen learning to drive and throughout my years of living here. Thank goodness I left for over 20 years, but come back in my 50's to the same dynamics....
