What #PrideMeans to LGBTQ Youth

"when i think of pride, i think of all the black kids that are searching for a space to call theirs." - Imani

GLSEN's National Student Council shared what #PrideMeans to them on the GLSEN Instagram to start a conversation about what really matters to LGBTQ youth this month. Read their stories below and tag @glsen on Instagram or Twitter to tell us what #PrideMeans to you with your proudest selfie!

For more ways to support LGBTQ youth during Pride, visit glsen.org/pride!

 

This month, we asked GLSEN students speak out on what #Pride means to them. Here's what GLSEN Student Advocate of the Year @oarheghan said: "pride means being able to bring all of my identities into a space without suppression." Let us know what Pride means to you in the comments below, or with #PrideMeans with your fav selfie! #InclusiveSchools #SafeSchools #LGBTQ #trans #queer #lesbian #nonbinary #gay

A post shared by GLSEN (@glsen) on Jun 13, 2018 at 2:29pm PDT

 

This month, we asked our National Student Council members what #PrideMeans to them. Here's what James (he/him) had to say: "pride is the tool i use to overcome the messages i have heard all my life about my identities. pride is where i get to celebrate myself without shame!" What does #PrideMonth do for you? Let us know below! @james.vank #InclusiveSchools #Pride #SafeSchools #LGBTQ #lesbian #gay #bi #trans #queer #nonbinary

A post shared by GLSEN (@glsen) on Jun 15, 2018 at 2:10pm PDT

 

We asked our GLSEN National Student Council what #PrideMeans to them. Imani (they/them) told us: "pride, to me, means everything. as a young black queer kid, i am constantly looking for spaces to include me. when i look around, i see everything but. lgbtqa spaces often center white queer folks while looking over black and brown communities. when i think of pride, i think of all the black kids that are searching for a space to call theirs." Why is #Pride important to you? Let us know in the comments below or using #PrideMeans with your own selfie!: @rosetampon #PrideMonth #InclusiveSchools #SafeSchools #LGBTQ #lesbian #gay #bi #trans #queer #nonbinary

A post shared by GLSEN (@glsen) on Jun 15, 2018 at 4:00pm PDT

 

This month, we asked our National Student Council members what #PrideMeans to them. Here's what Kian (he/him or they/them) had to say: "Pride is the believe that I get to be 110% myself. Pride let's me own my experiences. So many people have spent so long telling me I'm not allowed to love myself -- I use pride to prove these people wrong and show how much I love myself.!" How does #Pride allow you to express yourself? Let us know below! @ki_does_activism #InclusiveSchools #Pride #SafeSchools #LGBTQ #lesbian #gay #bi #trans #queer #nonbinary

A post shared by GLSEN (@glsen) on Jun 16, 2018 at 2:25pm PDT

 

For #Pride, we asked GLSEN's National Student Council what #PrideMeans for them. Em told us this: "for me, pride is reclaiming the history of the person I am today with joy. it’s fighting for what I know is right, and it’s loving the whole me, without letting go of the parts that are deemed lesser." What do you reclaim during #Pride? Let us know with #PrideMeans and your own selfie, or in the comments below! #InclusiveSchools #SafeSchools #LGBTQ #lesbian #gay #bi #trans #queer

A post shared by GLSEN (@glsen) on Jun 17, 2018 at 2:30pm PDT

 

To address what really matters during #Pride, we asked members of GLSEN's National Student Council what #PrideMeans to them. Here's what Soli (she/her) shared: "Pride for me is when I feel at home and safe for the first time in a while. Recently I was able to find a home for 3 hours with one of my best friends Zane and got to dance and sing without judgement in a queer centered space. I was high on the happiness of others. That is pride finding family and a community even if it is only a few hours. My favorite thing about being queer is going to events with other people like myself. Specifically the beautiful of the individual of being in an accepting place, feeling safe and joyous because of others happiness. That is pride." @musical_random_mess Want to share your Pride joy? Use #PrideMeans and your favorite selfie, or share your story in the comments! #InclusiveSchools #SafeSchools #LGBTQ #lesbian #gay #bi #trans #queer #nonbinary

A post shared by GLSEN (@glsen) on Jun 18, 2018 at 4:00pm PDT

 

Sarah (she/her) from GLSEN's National Student Council shared what #PrideMeans to her: "Pride to me means being able to take all the different aspects of my identity and openly share them with others, both LGBTQ and allies, in a comfortable space. my identities as a queer person, as an Asian person, as a young person, do not outshine each other but rather come together and allow me to express myself as much as I wish to. it is an opportunity to not only celebrate how far the LGBTQ community has come, but also continue to advocate against the oppression we still face."  @sarah.bunn Why is #Pride important to you? Tell your story with #PrideMeans or in the comments! #InclusiveSchools #SafeSchools #LGBTQ #lesbian #gay #bi #trans #queer #nonbinary

A post shared by GLSEN (@glsen) on Jun 19, 2018 at 11:30am PDT

 

Throughout this month, GLSEN's National Student Council is sharing what #PrideMeans to them. Ezra (Ey/Em/Eirs and He/Him/His) shared: "to me, pride gives me a chance to reminds allies to educate themselves when it comes to LGBTQ+ history and remind them to ask their LGBTQ+ peers what they need not only during pride month but throughout the entire year." @ezraxrose How do you address #LGBTQ youth needs not only during pride, but throughout the year? #InclusiveSchools #SafeSchools #LGBTQ #lesbian #gay #bi #trans #queer #nonbinary

A post shared by GLSEN (@glsen) on Jun 19, 2018 at 2:01pm PDT

 

We asked the GLSEN National Student Council what really matters to them during #Pride. Here's what @cruzycontreras said #PrideMeans to him: "with identities, orientations, and much more about myself, pride calls out to me that i am just as human as anyone else. pride allows me to advocate in a much more open environment with people who i do not get to see throughout the year. it brings a community often divided together while educating other communities too." Share what #PrideMeans to you and your community in the comments or with your own selfie! #InclusiveSchools #SafeSchools #LGBTQ #lesbian #gay #bi #trans #queer #nonbinary

A post shared by GLSEN (@glsen) on Jun 20, 2018 at 3:32pm PDT

 

For #PrideMonth, we asked GLSEN's National Student Council what #PrideMeans to them. Here's what Marisa (they/them) said: "#Pride means being able to stand where those who once fought for us envisioned, then taking it to a level to which we envision, creating a cycle of everlasting change!"  @marisavalladolid What does #PrideMean to you? How are you looking to build on the history of the queer movement? #InclusiveSchools #SafeSchools #LGBTQ #lesbian #gay #bi #trans #queer #nonbinary

A post shared by GLSEN (@glsen) on Jun 22, 2018 at 8:58am PDT

 
Find out how you can RISE UP for LGBTQ Youth during Pride and all year long at glsen.org/pride.