Tag Archive for: pride month

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month

/in ,

By Andres Jaramillo, LPC | Counselor

During the month of June, you may see more color around your workplace or community as the rainbow flag flies in windows, porches, stores, and on websites. The reason? It’s Pride Month!

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month

June was first officially declared Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month by President Clinton in 1999. However, the roots of this celebration are deeply woven into the fabric of American history, dating back to the 1960s and earlier when courageous and thoughtful LGBTQ+ individuals stood up to raids, rejection, and harassment, paving the way for acceptance and love.

For some, Pride Month is symbolized by rainbow flags, festivals, and parades held worldwide—a chance for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to come together and celebrate historical progress. However, Pride Month and the movement that began decades ago carry a much more profound message.

The Deeper Meaning Behind Pride

When individuals are perceived or feel “not normal” due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, the risks of emotional distress, mental health issues, and even suicide increase. LGBTQ+ youth contemplate suicide at nearly three times the rate of their heterosexual peers and are at higher risk due to mistreatment and societal stigma. In fact, according to a survey conducted by The Trevor Project, in the last year 41% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously contemplated suicide.

Research by GLAAD indicates that support for equal rights for LGBTQ+ individuals by non-LGBTQ+ people is now at an all-time high of 84%, up five percentage points from 2021. Additional studies show that while acceptance is growing, the need to continue educating society as a whole is critical with 55% of non-LGBTQ+ Americans stating they do not understand the dimensions of the LGBTQ community or how to describe its members.

We must challenge the traditional ideas of “normal” for the well-being of our family, friends, and neighbors. A 2023 Gallup poll shows that 7.2% of U.S. adults, or about 18 million people, identify as LGBTQ+. Chances are, someone around you is part of this community, and Pride Month reminds us of the role we play in their lives. What is normal is choosing to stand by someone’s side and being there for support. Supporting someone positively impacts their emotional, mental, and physical well-being.

Everyone faces hardships—at work, in family or relationships, with friends, or within themselves. We all understand that feeling loved and supported gives us more courage, confidence, and resilience to face life’s challenges. It is normal to stand together and support our LGBTQ+ family, friends, and neighbors. After all, we’re all just trying to live our best lives.

Happy Pride!

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental or emotional health, consider talking with one of NOAH’s counselors or psychiatrists for help. Contact us for an appointment today.

June is LGBTQ Pride

/in ,

By Andres Jaramillo | LPC

During the month of June, you may see more color around your workplace or community as the rainbow flag flies in windows, porches, stores, and websites, but why? Pride month.

June is LGBTQ Pride Month

June was first officially declared lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) pride month by President Clinton in 1999. But the real start of this story, woven into the fabric of American history, goes back to the 1960’s and before, when brave and thoughtful LGBTQ people stood up to raids, rejection, and harassment, paving the right to be supported and loved.

For some, the image of pride month is only rainbow flags, festivals or parades, which are held all around the world, and a chance for the LGBTQ and ally community to come together and celebrate the historical events and progress in the story. Deeper though, Pride month, and the Pride movement that began decades ago, has a much more important message.

When a person is seen or feels “not normal,” because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, the risks of emotional distress, mental health concerns, and even suicide goes up. Around 2/3 of LGBTQ youth report that someone in their lives tried to convince them to change their sexual orientation or gender identity and suppress who they are. LGBTQ youth contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of their heterosexual counterparts, and 40% of LGBTQ adults have experienced rejection from a family member or a close friend.

We must choose to accept that what we have been taught or seen as “normal” needs to be challenged for the wellbeing of our family, friends, and neighbors. Recent studies and polls show that about 5.6% of US adults, or about 18 million adults, identify as LGBTQ, so chances are someone around you identifies as LGBTQ and Pride month reminds us to think about the role we have in their lives. What is normal is to choose to stand by someone’s side and be their support. By doing that you can have a positive influence in their emotional, mental, and even physical wellbeing.

Everyone experiences hardships – at work, in our family or relationships, with our friends, with ourselves – and we can all relate to the idea that when we know we are loved and supported, we have more courage, confidence, and flexibility to take on life’s difficulties. It is normal to stand together and support our LGBTQ family, friends, and neighbors. Afterall, we’re all just trying to live our best life.

Happy Pride!

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental or emotional health, NOAH’s comprehensive team of counselors and psychiatrists. Contact us for an appointment today.