PRIDE is a Verb
Sometimes the most radical thing we can do is something…
This past weekend, I flew to Dallas to celebrate Pride Month with friends.
On the surface, it was a simple trip.
An hour-long flight.
A carry-on bag.
A weekend away.
But what I didn’t realize when I boarded that plane was how desperately I needed to recharge my soul battery.
Because lately, I’ve felt exhausted.
Exhaused by the headlines.
Exhausted by the constant attacks on vulnerable communities.
Exhausted by watching people in power target groups who are simply trying to live their lives authentically and safely.
Living in Texas, there are moments when it can feel isolating. Moments when it feels safer to stay quiet than to speak up.
And if I’m being honest, there are days when that loneliness makes me question whether my voice even matters.
This weekend reminded me that it does.
I spent time with a friend I hadn’t seen in years. We snacked, we shopped, we drank, we laughed, and somewhere between all of that, we talked about the issues affecting our lives, our families, and our futures.
There was something deeply comforting about not having to explain why certain things feel maddening or painful.
Sitting across from someone who simply gets it felt like the first sip of an Elderflower Gin & Tonic on a hot Texas afternoon.
Refreshing & Restorative
It reminded me that there are still people who deeply care about humanity, fairness, and the well-being of others.
And Lord, did I need that reminder.
And then there was - PRIDE.
Standing alongside members of the LGBTQIA+ community as an ally was one of the most meaningful parts of the weekend.
As I stood among thousands of people celebrating, supporting, and simply existing as their authentic selves, I realized something:
Pride isn’t just a feeling.
It’s an action.
It’s showing up.
It’s speaking up.
It’s refusing to let fear determine whose dignity deserves defending.
Pride isn’t something we wear; it’s something we do.
I didn’t show up because I thought my presence would change the world.
I showed up because...well…showing up matters.
When problems feel enormous, it’s easy to convince ourselves there’s nothing we can do.
But what if action is the antidote to hopelessness?
What if the most powerful thing we can do is refuse to look away?
The truth is, I don’t know if one weekend, one conversation, or one act of support changes anything on a grand scale.
But I do know this: Progress has never been created by silence.
It has always been created by people willing to speak up and show up.
And if there’s one group of people who understands that - it’s women.
Every right we enjoy today exists because women before us were willing to be criticized, dismissed, and called unreasonable.
They marched.
They organized.
They spoke out.
They persisted.
And because they did, today, our lives look different than theirs.
That’s why I believe so strongly that women CANNOT afford to stay quiet now.
Not when people are being marginalized.
Not when rights are being taken away.
Not when fear is being used to keep people small.
The women who came before us didn’t fight for us to inherit their courage only to leave it sitting on a shelf.
They fought so we would use it.
So you have to know that…
Your voice matters.
Your compassion matters.
Your presence matters.
You don’t have to lead a movement.
You don’t have to have the perfect words.
You don’t even have to know exactly what to do.
You simply just have to care enough not to look away.
Because when women remember the power they carry - remarkable things happen.
When we stand together, that is where the change begins.
This weekend reminded me of something I desperately needed to remember:
We are far more powerful than we’ve been led to believe and there are more of us than we think.
We are the people who care.
We are the people who show up.
We are the people who refuse to confuse silence with peace.
So yes…PRIDE is a verb.
Not just during Pride Month.
Not just for the LGBTQIA+ community.
For all of us.
Every time we choose courage over comfort.
Every time we use our voice instead of our silence.
Every time we stand beside someone who feels alone.
Every time we refuse to look away.
That’s PRIDE.
And if we’re going to create the kind of communities, country, and future we want to live in, we’re going to need a lot more of it.
Not next year.
Not after this next election.
Not when someone else decides to lead.
But right NOW!
I’ll leave you with this:
What’s one thing you’ve been staying quiet about that you’re ready to speak on?
I’d love to hear your answer in the comments.
Because courage is contagious.
Sending you love and light always,
-SG