Why Pride is important for LGBTQIA+ mental health
Celebrating Pride Month strengthens resilience and community for queer and trans folx
Happy Pride Month! Take a deep breath and a moment to savor those words. For many of us, “happy” may not the only emotion you are feeling during Pride this year. After more than 500 anti-gay and anti-trans bills have been introduced so far in 2024 (source: ACLU https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2024 ), and with a presidential election looming, Pride celebrations in the U.S. feel more important than ever this year. We’ve been reminded that Pride started as a riot, a protest - because being able to celebrate is not something to take for granted, and human rights and lives are at stake.
Pride month celebrations and events can re-energize a sense of identity and solidarity, and get people involved in their communities and engaged in activism that will continue long after the confetti has been swept up. However, the act of honoring and celebrating Pride month is itself beneficial for queer mental health. Yes, your therapist said lacing up your rainbow shoelaces and going to Pride events is good for you!
You may be familiar with statistics showing the disproportionately greater risk for mental health issues, substance misuse, and suicide that LGBTQIA+ people face (source: The American Psychiatric Association https://www.psychiatry.org/getmedia/552df1c0-57f2-4489-88fa-432182ce815a/Mental-Health-Facts-for-LGBTQ.pdf ). This is due to the stress and trauma of homophobia; hate crimes; discrimination; isolation; rejection by community or family of origin; and barriers to accessing healthcare, employment, housing, and other supports. Being queer or trans does not itself cause mental health issues, but being queer or trans in a hetero-normative and cis-normative society that fails to protect your rights and safety does.
How does attending Pride events help fight back against those statistics? If you’re newly out, if you just moved to a new city, or if you haven’t found your own community or chosen family, the hetero-normative/cis-normative world can feel isolating. Going to a Pride event is a magical opportunity to be in a space where LGBTQIA+ folx are the majority. Connecting with your community and sharing in queer joy is a powerful and important experience for many people, and can boost self-esteem and self-acceptance. If you are questioning or still exploring, Pride is a beautiful showcase of the infinite diversity of sexuality and gender expression! Sometimes seeing someone else living/wearing/doing/embodying something you weren’t sure you “could” helps you feel confident to try it out yourself, and embrace your authentic identity. Even if you’ve been going to Pride events for years, the chance to reconnect with the greater community can still be incredibly affirming and validating, especially in light of current events. You’re a living role model to people who are newer to the community or not yet out, showing them how wonderful accepting yourself can be. And in turn, seeing new and younger faces showing up to celebrate can remind us that there is a lot of hope for the future.
These benefits are not limited to attending public events; just look on any social media platform and see who is talking about Pride Month - not the corporations splashing rainbows across their branding, but your friends, family, and community. The more people who remind us that they are out and proud, and the more allies who celebrate their existence, the more we are pushing back against hate and homophobia by showing people that everyone knows someone and/or is related to someone who is a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. And that plants the seeds for empathy, for greater acceptance and understanding, and for a better world and better mental health for all of us.
Pride reminds people they are not alone, they belong, and the are loved. This act of celebration saves lives. If you are reading this, you are not alone, you belong, and you are loved. I wish you a happy, safe, and empowering Pride Month!
Allison Marx is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and Registered Art Therapist in Los Angeles, CA. She specializes in LGBTQIA+ affirmative, poly/ENM-friendly, and kink-knowledgeable therapy.