June 2026

     By Ross Reagan       June 29, 2026   If you could live everyday like it was Pride Month, what would that look like for you? As Pride month comes to a close, I’ve been considering the true meaning of the word–both in terms of its rich, tumultuous history and our current ways of celebrating. What started as a small gay march celebrating freedom in the 1970’s has evolved into a global movement of strength and courage in the face of adversity.  The coined term “Pride Month” most of us are familiar with today involves celebrating diversity and equal rights among our LGBTQ+ fellows. Major cities across the world have parades, special events, marches, festivals, and we hope to achieve a deeper sense of connection by participating.  To continue my understanding, I’ve also been considering and deeply curious about how other gay men view and experience Pride, its meaning, and if the word stirs up a mix of emotions for those who don’t find a deeper sense of connection while attending. I’ve been asking myself, What are the differences and similarities between the words “Pride” and “pride”? and How do we develop a healthy, everyday sense of pride for ourselves? A Brief History of Pride  The first Gay Pride march was held in New York City on Sunday, June 28, 1970. The original name ascribed to the march was called Christopher Street Liberation Day. It was held to honor the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and advocate for fundamental human rights in the wake of inequality.  Within two years, marches were led in cities across the country and globe: Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, Washington D.C., Paris, West Berlin, Stockholm, and London (and many more). The goal was to eliminate all types of discrimination against gay people, whether that be in the workplace, doctor’s office, schools, or public places. These marches were not requests: they were demands for protection.  After a series of laws decriminalizing homosexuality in the ‘70’s, we found successful momentum in not only more protections, but in representing our healthy sexuality to the world. By the end of the decade, Gilbert Baker designed and created the first rainbow flag we know today, flown during San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day Parade in 1978.  The focus has shifted in many places today from a do-or-die march for human rights into a celebration filled with elaborate costumes, music, and fun events.   The Pride that we celebrate today is based on a rich history of movements demonstrating our fight for equality. Everyone involved in the fight should be honored and recognized as key activists (please see reference list for sources consolidated, which summarize many who tirelessly fought for our freedoms today). The Dictionary Definition Combined With Our Version Today Broadly speaking, the word “pride,” according to Merriam-Webster, means “reasonable self-esteem, confidence and satisfaction in oneself, and self-respect.” Although the word has many additional variations, and even negative connotations, “pride” monitors and reflects our inherent value as humans.  If we look back at the history of Pride, activists fought for their fundamental rights because nobody should be denied their basic rights to exist in love, in relationship to others, and to themselves. The word “pride” means praising our accomplishments and demonstrating self-confidence, and that definition is rightfully evidenced from our liberation days. The combination of “pride” and “Pride” reveals that the hard work we put out in the world to free ourselves from persecution supports our love for ourselves and others. While our rights today are still threatened in a broader cultural context and tumultuous political landscape, there exists many threats from within our gay community. The paradigm shift begs a questions we face with each other: Who are we fighting for now?  How much healthy self-esteem do we have for ourselves and are we really ever satisfied? What Holds Us Back from Healthy Pride Pride Month can also bring up feelings of unworthiness and shame. Events today showcase an unhealthy attention to body types, partying and drugs, and sex. The yearning for authentic connection versus our disconnective behaviors create the ultimate paradox. Our desire to be authentic is complicated by what the media offers us as healthy. Many of us enter into adulthood with bruised and beaten parts of ourselves, desperate for love and support in an accepting and authentic community. We often struggle with:   All of these factors can influence our feelings of low self-esteem, denying us a healthy sense of pride. If both “pride” and “Pride” is what we want to celebrate and experience, then how do we get there in the wake of chaos, shame, and uncertainty?  What ways can we express our pride that honor our sense of self? The Gay Men Going Deeper Resource for Pride As for gay men (and everyone), we should be celebrating our self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-respect every month of the year. If you don’t know where to begin, The GMGD podcast created a playlist that speaks to many of these struggles gay men face, and how to work on overcoming them. We’ve chosen twenty episodes over the course of five years that address crucial issues most of us can relate to. They are universal topics we believe you can benefit from no matter where you are in your personal healing journey. You can find the link to the playlist here. Additionally, we’ve picked five essential interviews from our podcast that explore specific topics with other experts in the gay community. The ultimate goal is to give you the tools to develop your own loving sense of pride, to be proud of your own accomplishments and journey, and to pass along the message to our fellow gay brothers in need. With all of that, I’d like to offer you a gentle, loving reminder: Don’t just live from the essence of one liberated day and month, but go out there and strive for a liberated life. Our gayness, queerness, and individual sexuality have always been here. Pride is