 |
| Having
the ability to stand up for yourself without fear of others
looking down on you. The important thing is how YOU see
yourself. |
|
| It
is the feeling inside my heart that I feel to know that
just because I love different does not mean that I am
different. That I should feel proud to be gay everyday. |
|
| It
is a way of expressing my own colorful individuality. |
|
| Action.
Empowerment. Community. Support. Love. |
|
| It
means being you and going out and showing the world that
it is OK to come out ad shine. |
|
| Pride
is marked on my calendar as a major holiday for me. Through
Pride, the diverse GLBT community is able to unite and
be seen and heard. Pride is simply a celebration of who
I am. |
|
| It
would help me in knowing myself more deeply and it might
give me an answer for some of the obstacles that I've
had. I just thought that it would bring a lot of meaning
to me especially in seeking who I really am. |
|
| Gay
Pride is being comfortable with who you are and embodying
that pride so that society can see our numbers and learn
to accept what is in front of them. |
|
| Gay
Pride is about celebrating every aspect of what it means
to be gay...it's about celebrating our right to love freely
without caution...its about celebrating our right to stand
up and fight back and NOT take every slur...every blurb...and
every swing thrown at us. It's about celebrating LIFE
and all its colors. |
|
| Pride
to me is a celebration of diversity - a chance for everyone
to get together to celebrate our differences, ban stereotypes
and misconceptions, and to unite as a community of 1. |
|
| It
means not only the safe space being limited to private
areas, but in the public arena and a public validation
of queer identities, rights and goals. |
|
| It
means that I finally get to share a part of my life with
my sister, who until now I have kept away for so long. |
|
| Gay
pride is our only chance to show that we have the same
rights like any other street person. |
|
| Gay
pride is our only opportunity to show that we are just
like any other person, with the same rights. |
|
| Gay
Pride is an event that brings LBTQ awareness to people
of all ages in our community. It's always important for
all people to show pride! Peace! |
|
| Pride,
equality in marriage rights and civil rights, and it is
going to be my first Pride! |
|
| Gay
pride means a lot to me. Being there fills me with a sense
of hope that one day we will have equal rights. It is
also nice to know that I'm not the only one with such
opinions. |
|
| It's
awareness and tolerance to not only the LGBTQ community,
but the straight community. It's also a reason to have
fun! |
|
| Proud
of your orientation; not scared to be who you really are...
not scared to express yourself and how you feel!! |
|
| Gay
Pride means being yourself. This includes being honest
with yourself and those around you. |
|
| The
freedom to love and to be. |
|
| Gay
pride is an important annual event for everyone to demonstrate
our community's diversity, tolerance/acceptance, and awareness.
To me, Pride is a celebration of every single person who
wants to be a part of it. =) |
|
| Gay
pride means that your not scared to be who you are and
you are ready to come on and have fun! |
|
| The
pride to be a part of the LGBT community and the strive
for equality.. standing up for who you are. |
|
| I
am proud to be growing up as a lesbian in the society
we live in today and not being afraid to be who you are.
What's important is how you feel about yourself. I know
we have come a long way, and still have a long path ahead
of us. Progress is slow, but I am glad I get to be apart
of it. My girlfriend is flying in from Las Vegas and we
are excited to be supporting something that is positive
and for equal rights. This will be her first Gay Pride
Festival. I am happy we get to spend it together. |
|
| Being
happy with who you are and not being afraid to say it
out loud! |
|
| The
only day I feel freedom on the street. |
|
| It
shows that no matter your age, there's people out there
who go through the same struggles as me and it shows the
equal side of people. |
|
| To
me, gay pride means being comfortable, being accepted,
and being loved. Not just by my friends and family, but
by myself. Holding my head high and being the most authentic
person I know how to be by not being scared to show the
world one of the most amazing parts of what makes me so
great. |
|
| Everyday
straight people get to walk hand in hand and never experience
discrimination. Pride is a time for people to get together
with others that feel comfortable around with and just
celebrate and have a great time. |
|
| Living
your life without fear, boundaries, or shame. |
|
| Loving
myself, and loving how I love! |
|
| It
is significant to me because it is hard to expose my sexuality
in an ordinarily straight community; so by being at Gay
pride it will help my comfort level. I am currently writing
my own show on the difficulties of being gay. |
|
| Gay
pride means that I will have a day that my girlfriend
and I can socialize and meet other gay, lesbian, bisexual,
and transgender couples and individuals. It is comforting
to be able to look around and be accepted since not everyone
in our families accepts our relationship. Pride means
being able to learn more about events and how I can make
a difference in empowering the community. |
|
| Gay
pride means being true to who you are and understanding
that although others may not agree with who you choose
to be, you are who you are and nothing, and noone, will
change that! |
|
| Gay
Pride is when I am able to be ME. I can dress, act, talk,
dance, and sing in any way that I choose. Gay pride is
about being free...free from having to worry about what
other people think. |
|
| It
means that you should be proud to be whatever and whoever
you are! |
|
| It
means freedom to b who u wanna b...respecting everyone's
individuality! |
|
| It
means being proud of who you are and wanting to share
your true self with the rest of the world. |
The
theme for this year's LA Pride Festival is "Our Agenda:
Love. Equality. Pride." As
part of our Ticket Giveaways, we are asking youth members of
the community to express what Gay Pride means to them and what
their agenda is. Below are some of the responses that we have
received via e-mail.