“Pride to me is a celebration of our differences. It is a celebration that tells us that our differences are not shortcomings but rather something to be celebrated. Pride to me is also the community and ALL people who fall into the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. It’s a collective of all different groups of queer people coming together to celebrate their differences as a community.

“My entire life has been a road to self-acceptance. I grew up hating a part of myself and thinking that something was wrong with me. I tried convincing myself that I was straight, until I didn’t have the energy to do it anymore. Coming out was pivotal because it was the point in my life when I stopped hating myself and started loving myself. Self-acceptance doesn’t happen overnight, but every day I become more comfortable with who I am.

“[While I do feel optimistic about the future], trans people all around our country are being attacked by lawmakers and I believe that it is important for all members of the LGBTQ+ community to support pro-trans legislation. Trans people paved the way for gay people to have the rights that we now do. We need to return the favor and make sure that trans people all around America are protected by our government.”