We go together for Pride

Regina faced many challenges growing up, but now she’s that much stronger for it. She went from an academic counselor advising students to a role model and mentor for trans teens who need a different kind of guidance as they grow. Regina living life as her truest self shows them—and the rest of the LGBTQ+ community—that it’s possible to not only survive but also really thrive when you have the support of everyone around you.

“It all comes back to the support system of us having to be here for each other. Not even just within the LGBT community, but everybody, all of us. There are several communities under attack right now. We really can’t afford to be divided. If we were all to stand together, there’s no bigotry or hate that could sway us or take us down.”

He wants to be a trailblazer for all Hispanic gay men who dream of pursuing careers in corporate finance but are afraid they won’t fit the industry cast. Frank believes the best way to be successful is to be yourself, and he hopes his fellow LGBTQ+ community members will develop the confidence they need to go after what they want at a company that accepts them for who they are.

“Anytime I see a person of color or a gay person in an awesome leadership role, then I’m super proud. I want to learn how they got there. And one day I want to be a Hispanic leader and I want to be true to myself all the way until then, so if someone asks me how I did it, I can say I was myself the whole time.”

This year, Gabe is embarking on a new journey. After almost 30 years of living as a woman, he’s starting his transition to become a man. While he’ll have the love and support of friends and family every step of the way, he knows there will be some people who just don’t understand. With them, Gabe says patience is the key to acceptance. If everyone took a little extra time to teach and talk with one another, then we’d all have the power to open someone’s heart and mind.

“From being very girly to being very manly now, I don’t feel like I belong sometimes. I feel like I’m either too straight or too gay, so to certain people I’m not the person they want me to be. But, when Pride comes around, I get so excited because I know I’m at home. I’m with people who are like me, who are probably thinking the same way I am.”

Over the years, David has gathered with good friends to participate in local Pride parades, but he sees the need for support at a much broader level than any one city. He hopes that the increase in representation in mainstream media will inspire every member of the LGBTQ+ community to live fearlessly. And that this normalization will spread to people in all parts of the world.

“Representation matters—you need to see yourself on screen or somewhere to be able to push yourself through something. Even just walking around, eating breakfast, taking a photo and posting it on social media. Those little moments make a big difference. And I think the light at the end of the tunnel is normalization across the world.”

Shane is truly a jack of all trades—he DJs at Pride and trans events all over the country, sits on the board of his local parade, and is starting a social club that brings trans people together. Needless to say, he’s all about the hustle because he sees it as a way to lay the foundation for others who need a little help finding their place in both the professional and Pride communities. Shane wants to show them that success is an option, no matter their orientation.

“I know that this path that I’m carving out is going to make it easier for people to take that path, kick their doors open, and go further than I even did. It’s like paying my dues for my community, and that’s always why I show up and that’s always why I give the best. I’m on point so the next trans person doesn’t have this bias.”

Billie lives with her wife, Meg, with whom she shares 2 grown sons, Matt and Brad. For them, Pride is a family affair that’s celebrated every day of the year. They’re deeply involved in the LGBTQ+ community and active supporters of local charities and organizations affiliated with it. Whether it’s volunteering her time or opening up for a candid conversation, Billie sees every interaction as an opportunity to encourage a level of understanding and acceptance that didn’t exist just years ago.

“People have decided that it’s more important to open your heart and your mind than to just stay part of the status quo. And nothing ever gets any better, you can never heal, you can never learn, you can never move forward until you know the person that you’re speaking to.”

Roland has a flair for fashion, but his real focus is on the future. He wants the next generation of the LGBTQ+ community to have it better and easier than he ever did. As they’re growing up and going out on their own, Roland hopes kids and young adults feel comfortable and confident to explore who they really are. Finding oneself can be a lifelong journey, but he believes a strong support system of friends and family is all they need to help them on their way.

“There’s going to be struggle along the way, but there’s always progress. Even in the last 10 years, so much has changed. You see now a lot of kids in high school or grade school discovering who they are and understanding that they don’t have to stick to a sexual orientation dynamic set by standard society or even a gender standard.”

The Pride parade holds special meaning for Justin because it’s where he met his boyfriend. They’ve been together almost 2 years now and plan to get married by next summer. Eventually, Justin hopes to open an experiential art gallery, but right now they’re focused on living in the moment and exploring the city. When they go out, it’s hand in hand, because he believes the more LGBTQ+ couples are seen, the sooner they’ll be universally accepted.

“The point we want to get to is that it’s normal. You’re not strange, no matter what you’re dressed like, what you look like, how you’re raised, what your sexual orientation is, gender, anything. One day we’ll get there.”

Originally from the Philippines, Lee embarked on a new journey in the US at a young age. She found her way to Los Angeles, where she was able to explore the idea of becoming part of the transgender community, while remaining true to her religious upbringing. Now she’s a member of an open and accepting LGBTQ+ non-denominational church that marches together in the Pride parade every year.

“This is going to sound contradictory to a lot of LGBT people, but if I didn’t have faith that there’s a higher power looking after me who loves me and accepts me for who I am, and who taught me that I need to love myself first and then love my neighbor as I love myself, then I probably would have given up so many times.”

Grad school may have been what brought Jonathan to San Francisco, but the freedom to be his most authentic self is what made him stay. It’s where he found a sense of belonging and inclusivity instead of the discrimination and judgment he experienced elsewhere. Now Jonathan can celebrate being part of the LGBTQ+ community 365 days a year and support others—from close friends to strangers he meets on the street—who are doing the same.

“We are not stronger by ourselves. We are not better by ourselves. We’re better as a community, we’re better together—not just people who are part of our community, but also our allies, and the people who love us, who want us to succeed. It takes all that together for us to be the community we want to be.”

Whether she’s at home with her husband and children, in her car, or out and about, Treena is always in Momma Bear mode. She opens her heart and mind to everyone she meets while driving, especially those who remind her of her son. Treena says her car is a safe space where people of the LGBTQ+ community can be their most authentic selves without fear of judgment or repercussion. If they want to talk, she’s ready to listen. Because that’s just what moms do.

“I want my son to be able to be completely happy and have a good marriage with the man that he decides to be married to, so I can walk him down the aisle like I did my daughters. I want him to be able to find that and I want him to be able to feel comfortable with it no matter the situation.”

Glen was captivated by show credits at a young age and quickly decided

TV was the business he wanted to be in. Over the years, he’s seen the evolution of acceptance on the small screen. He never thought he’d see a TV series with gay characters, but LGBTQ+ representation has become more and more common in media. Glen hopes this will show young people that they don’t have to hide who they really are, no matter who’s watching.

“You know, at a very young age, we feel different. And when you feel different, especially from a small town, you think you’re the only one that feels that way. Then you start to discover, whether it’s internet or coming to a place like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, whatever, I’m not alone. And you can be yourself, it’s like you can exhale. You can finally exhale, and be who you are.”

With her background in psychology and mental health, Jessica fully understands the impact that positivity can have on people. She advocates for open-mindedness and acceptance because it can improve the well-being of the entire LGBTQ+ community, and society as a whole. The more everyone is included—no matter their age, gender, cultural background, or orientation—the happier and healthier we’ll all be.

“Pride for me [is about] all the different cultures coming together. I’m multicultural, so it’s always been a part of my life, but seeing my surroundings become more and more receptive of that, it just feels like we’re evolving.”

Simply put, Samson is a people person. He cares greatly about making a positive impact on his peers and creating a sense of camaraderie with everyone he meets. Whether during Pride or any other day of the year, Samson wants LGBTQ+ community members and allies alike to have their moment in the spotlight. And he wants people everywhere to show their support because that’s the only way we can move forward together.

“I believe it with all my heart, that it will happen. You walk down the street, and you see someone that’s a little bit different from you, and you just love them. Not because they’re different, but because they’re being who they are. And you cheer for them.”

Kim has a lot to be proud of—her heritage, her service, where she’s been in life, and where she’s going. She’s an Air Force veteran who served 10 years and traveled the world before returning to the US for school and work. She’s also a drummer, photographer, and role model for young women—and all people—who want to live honestly and courageously. Her endless self-expression has paved the way for others to follow suit, and she believes there’s no better time than now for them to do so.

“I march for representation. I march to show little girls who look just like me that you can work for a company like this, and there’s love out there. I definitely want to be a positive role model. I want to be a good person, but I really want my legacy to be that of progress, of peace, of empowerment, of validation.”

Graciella honors the legacy of past generations by helping young members of the LGBTQ+ community find their own way in the world. Every week, she volunteers with a local organization that serves homeless youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities. She helps prepare a warm meal, participates in group activities, and lends an open ear to anyone who needs to talk. Graciella hopes the time she spends with these kids will make them believe in a better future.

“One thing that’s extremely important to me is for our LGBTQ youth to remember that this just didn’t start last year. This has been decades of work, of protest, of wanting equality. I choose to be a part of that. I choose to carry that torch, I choose to march forward, and I choose to keep fighting because otherwise what will it have been for?”