IT’S PRIDE MONTH: Discover How to Celebrate Yourself

Pride Month is a time to celebrate the progress, achievements and global contributions of the LGBTQIA community. From Greenwich Village to Berlin, San Francisco to São Paolo, Madrid to Australia and New Zealand, World Pride is more beautifully visible than ever. 

The growth of Pride is wonderful and necessary. But sometimes, it can be difficult to look past the parades, marches and events and find your place in it all. 

This year, Authentic Leaders lovingly encourages you to take a moment to love, honor and nurture yourself. Let's discover how to celebrate your individual pride with true queer joy.

Pride Month’s History Is About Community…

Celebrate Pride Month and the accomplishments, history and legacy of the queer community. But learn how to start that journey from within.

The history of Pride Month is rich and complex. In the United States, people reflect on key events like the Stonewall Uprising and the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, challenges like the AIDS crisis, and figures like Harvey Milk, Sylvia Rivera and Kathy Kozachenko.

In our extensive work with LGBTQ+ professionals and organisations in Australia, we've learned about its passionate history of queer activism. It's important to celebrate the Campaign Against Moral Persecution, the Gay Solidarity Group, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, and the founders of the Australasian Lesbian Movement. 

Every country and territory has its own distinctive reason for celebrating LGBTQ Pride, full of ferociously brave leaders, champions of equality and seminal moments (both beautiful and tragic).

But Real Pride Starts Within Each Of Us

The common thread between all segments of the global queer experience must be remembered: every burst of rainbow color begins with a small act of courageous self-acceptance.

Every great moment, change, and landmark decision began with real, everyday people. 

There is no queer community without the person. No global progress without the individual.

There is no Pride without every one of us — and so this Pride Month, you must start by celebrating yourself.

The Definition of Pride Starts With The Self

This view of Pride Month as a personal celebration isn't a selfish act, or an opinion. It's a definitional fact.

The very first listed definition of “pride” by Britannica is “a feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by other people: self-respect”.

It doesn't start with a Pride parade, a rainbow flag or a big party (as amazing as all of these things are!).

Pride starts with you.

Making Pride Month Personal: A Journey to Greater Self-Love

“I found a deeper love, a deeper love inside… and I call it pride.” – Aretha Franklin

As Aretha Franklin sings, the deeper love we all need exists inside each of us. Yes, we gain encouragement and inspiration from every Pride march, community event and dance party — but the true, quiet quest for Pride begins within you.

Set out on your own Pride Month journey towards a greater connection with these 3 goals:

• Ferocious self-love

• Stronger self-acceptance

• Unwavering self-authority

Follow these steps, and we'll help you get there.

Celebrate Yourself, Exactly As You Are

You are a miracle. Over 117 billion people have lived on Earth — none of them have ever been you, and no one else ever will be.

You are exactly who you were born to be. There was no mistake in how you were made. So get curious, who are you on the inside? Who are you truly, beyond the surface, beyond identity labels, beyond your skin, and deep in your soul and spirit, who are you?

Celebrate yourself fully, your strengths and even what you define as your weaknesses. (How can they be weaknesses if they are a part of how you were designed?) 

Perhaps you see being shy as a fault. Others think quiet people are strong and thoughtful. Do you judge yourself for laughing too loud? That is simply the power of fully embracing joy.

Be you. Purely you. And love yourself for it. 

Embrace Your Queer Identity

This self-love must include fully embracing your queer identity. 

We use the phrase “queer identity” to cover a diverse array of sexual identities and gender expressions. Because no 2 people are alike, and we each bring a unique, beautiful identity to our community and the world.

It's easy to embrace traits and characteristics we see in most of the people around us. It's more difficult to proudly introduce your true queer identity to the world, simply because you do not see it in everyone around you.

Any internalized fears or doubts we feel about our queer identity were not there when we were born — we learned them.

Someone, somewhere, taught you to feel ashamed or “less than” because of who you were born to be. Chances are, they're long gone from your life. And yet, their impact remains. Old hurts are hard to shake. But now is a wonderful time to try.

The source of your self-doubt doesn't deserve your time or attention anymore. 

This Pride Month, take some time to sit with your barriers, walls and self-rejection. Understand why you built these things to protect yourself from the hurts of the past. Consider whether these protective doubts still serve you in the unique context you exist in. Are these fears still valid?

Acknowledge Your Bravery and Perseverance

“We are powerful because we have survived.” – Audre Lorde

Every human journey is singular. You've walked your own path. There have been songs, smiles and celebrations. There have also been struggles, tears and tragedies.

And through all of those hard times, you're still here. What a wonderful testament to your bravery, your resilience and your perseverance. 

Acknowledge this. You've come a long way to be where you are today. Take a moment to salute your past and relish the present.

Set New Intentions to Grow Your Personal Pride

The last step in your personal pride celebration is your first step into the future. A future where you step into every day with the conviction that you deserve to be here, deserve equality and inclusion, and deserve respect.

Not because you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Not because you are queer. Simply because you are you.

What are your new intentions for the year to come? How will you live, work and interact in a way that fosters deeper self-love and greater pride in yourself?

Never Forget: Pride Starts Within You

Pride starts with you. Embrace your identity, acknowledge your bravery, and strive for true queer joy.

This year, transform Pride Month into a personal journey towards greater queer joy. 

Celebrate your complete queer identity as a source of positivity and power. View your experiences (good and bad) as a wellspring of resilience, wisdom and power.

Always remember: you are a 1-in-117 billion miracle, born to be exactly who you are. 

And hey — those are some pretty amazing accomplishments. Treat yourself to a slice of rainbow cake and hold a Pride month celebration just for being yourself.

Every great moment, achievement and cultural milestone in queer history began with one person's audacious, uncompromising act of self-love and radical self-acceptance.

It's time to give yourself that gift. Happy Pride, and we love you.