Pride Month: A Celebration of Unity and Love

As we embark the month of June, it’s a reminder people can live life authentically and proud. Pride is knowing that it’s ok to be YOU.Celebrating pride month is recognizing humans have rights and being able to celebrate diversity.

June is a month of courage. People who have fought and rallied so people like me can live in a space they never could before. To stand up for the right to be comfortable with who they really are inside.

Growing up I was different from my friends. I was taught that being different was a good thing, but I was still unsettled. I had to pretend to be someone else in fear I would be judged or rejected. This led to severe depression and eventually substance abuse. Being able to live my life free of shame is something words will never be able to describe.

Today I stand proud to be a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I get to provide a safe, caring space for people who are struggling with substance use disorder and watch people transform their lives for the better.

“Pride month is that time of the year when we show the whole world that we are worthy of respect, we are worthy of recognition and should not be afraid to be ourselves. Pride is the time when we show how valuable we are, how needed we are and how different and gloomy the world would be without us”