While much of LGBTQ+ history involves struggle and pain, Pride Month is also about joy — the radical act of celebrating who you are in a world that often tells you not to. In this sense, queer joy is not frivolous — it’s revolutionary.
Whether it’s dancing in the street, laughing with chosen family, wearing bold colors, or simply holding hands in public — queer joy pushes back against systems of shame and fear. It says, “We exist, and we deserve to be happy.”
Amid ongoing challenges — including anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, violence, and discrimination — joy can feel difficult or even inappropriate. But joy does not ignore pain; it gives people the strength to keep going.
This Pride, don’t just remember the struggle — honor the joy. Because living out loud is not just powerful — it’s healing.
Kanishka