Youth's Lives Every Day
Whether you live somewhere that goes all out with a parade or you aren’t able to go to Pride in person, there are many different ways to celebrate Pride Month. In fact, you don’t even have to be out or 100% certain how you identify to celebrate!
Pride can be a protest, a big party, a small get-together, or just finding a quiet moment to reflect throughout the month. At the end of the day, Pride Month is a catalyst to empowering yourself, showing strength in community, spending time with the people you love, and honoring those folks who have stood up for LGBTQ+ rights in the past and continue to do so today.
If you’re a young person looking for ways to celebrate Pride Month, here are just a few:
Ways to Celebrate Pride at Home
If going to a public or in-person Pride event isn’t an option for you, that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate Pride! There are tons of ways to honor Pride Month at home, whether that’s with some self-care time or an intimate get-together.
Treat Yourself
With all the activities to do during Pride Month, it can be easy to forget to celebrate yourself! Treat yourself to your favorite meal or dessert, or take a walk outside at your favorite park. Or stay in and take a hot bath, do some journaling, love on your pets, and reflect on why you deserve to be proud of yourself. Whatever celebrating yourself looks like, Pride Month is the perfect excuse to do it.
Celebrate Someone You Love
Spread pride and joy by celebrating someone you care about. This can be as simple as sending a Happy Pride text throughout the month, or a short message letting them know you’re thinking of them and support them. Community is built through big and small acts of solidarity.
Decorate Your Space
Lights, candles, decor. All the other holidays get fun decorations — why not Pride Month? Add some color to your room with rainbows, flags or streamers. You can also hang up quotes, posters or pictures of LGBTQ+ icons and heroes. And if decorating your space isn’t an option, make a canvas your own! Try decorating a notebook or crafting a junk journal collage. Digital collages count, too!
Have a Movie Night
Break out the popcorn! When it comes to LGBTQ+ films, TV shows and documentaries, the options are endless. Many streaming platforms and TV channels feature Pride content all month long, so you can binge your heart out. Pro tip: Source older LGBTQ+ films from the library or do a Tumblr deep dive of the best coming out films.
Make a Pride Playlist
There’s nothing like the energy of the music at a Pride parade. Channel that energy in your bedroom! Make your own playlist with songs that make you feel joyful, uplifted and proud. You can also discover new artists and songs by tuning into Pride playlists that are already out there on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and more.
Get Dressed Up
Celebrate through your style and expression! Clothing, hair and makeup can be a meaningful way to express who you are during Pride Month, whether you wear your outfit out of the house or just stay in and take pictures. Photoshoots never need an occasion. Rainbows, glitter and pride flag colors are one way to go, but they’re not the only way to express yourself. Add hints of color to pay homage to the trans flag in your makeup or incorporate rainbow details into your nails. A Pride outfit can be any outfit that makes you feel like you.
Join an Online Community like TrevorSpace
Even if you’re not able to celebrate Pride Month with other folks in-person, you can still find your community online. Whether that’s by watching LGBTQ+ YouTubers and TikTokers or joining an online forum, connecting with people who share your experiences can be a meaningful part of Pride Month.
TrevorSpace is an online community where people ages 13 – 24 can meet other young LGBTQ+ folks to talk about everything from the deep stuff to pop culture and fun hobbies. And joining is free and confidential!
Ways to Celebrate Pride In Your Community
No matter where you live, there are ways to celebrate Pride Month with other LGBTQ+ young people. Whether your town has a large-scale Pride celebration or it doesn’t offer a safe or comfortable space to be out and proud, here are a few ways to connect and celebrate with others:
Get Together with Friends
Invite your favorite people or chosen family to celebrate with you! A Pride celebration can be big or small: a coffee date, a picnic at your local park, a fun craft day, or an all-out party. Anyone who supports and is proud of you can celebrate Pride, so even if you don’t know many or any other LGBTQ+ young people, you can still get together with allies and loved ones.
Go to the Library
From classics to new releases, there are tons of LGBTQ+ YA novels, history books and autobiographies out there — and your library system has them for free! Many libraries have Pride Month reading lists and sometimes entire shelves dedicated to LGBTQ+ authors and books. If you can’t go in person, you might be able to check out books through your library’s online system or app.
Find Your Local Youth Organization
Have you searched for an organization that supports LGBTQ+ young people in your state or local area? If you haven’t yet, Pride Month is the perfect time to get involved locally. Small-town Pride centers and statewide equality organizations can be a great way to connect with other young LGBTQ+ people, allies, and supportive adults at events like Pride-themed silent discos, book clubs, or brunches!
Raise Awareness for a Cause
One meaningful way to celebrate Pride is by supporting a cause you care about — and you don’t need to make donations to make a difference. If there’s an issue or organization that’s important to you, whether LGBTQ-centered or otherwise, you can post about it online, share it with friends, or participate in a fundraising challenge or activity. Pride Month is about being true to who you are and honoring the causes that matter to you.
Do a Virtual or In-Person Walk or Run
Lots of organizations host Pride 5Ks, runs or walks — and if there isn’t one near you, you can still join in! Many 5Ks offer a way to participate virtually, so you can walk or run wherever you live and whatever your physical ability, and still be part of the cause. Whether you invite a friend or do it solo, getting outside and active this summer is something to be proud of.
