June Pride

June is Pride Month, founded in 1994. The Pride movement originally was based around the Stonewall Riots (and others) of the 1970s, in which homophobic cops raided and arrested queer people at a well-known gay bar, Stonewall Inn. The history of Pride is much more deeply rooted in activism and resistance than rainbows and corporate sponsors, and that is one of the goals of Pride Month; to educate, discuss the history, and advance knowledge of LGBTQIA+ people, both past and present.

As someone who identifies with the LGBTQIA+ community, it was important to me to celebrate it in some way through my photography. I created a little digital flyer, offering Pride Month Minis, and posted it wherever I could on various local Facebook groups. Disappointingly, but unsurprisingly, my post got flagged and removed multiple times.

I persisted, finding local queer/LGBTQIA+ groups that wouldn’t flag or report my post, as well as posting on my own Facebook page. I was able to find five people wanting to book sessions: two couples, two families, and one wanting portraits done.

As our Supreme Court moves the scale back into a more conservative and dangerous time for women, POC and LGBTQIA+ people, where civil rights are threatened and impeded, and LGBTQIA+ youth continue to be shamed and shunned, I think it is more important than ever to elevate, support, and celebrate our diversity and resilience.