VCFS PRIDE
Happy Pride! As June and Pride month commences, VCFS wants to celebrate the individuals, groups, and love stories that make up the LGTBQ2IA+ community.
At VCFS, we know that there is cause to celebrate these stories every month of the year. What better way to represent Pride Month than with a photoshoot - just as proud, vibrant, and unapologetic as the love the community exudes. Everyone is deserving of love, and Pride month is a time to celebrate the acceptance of showing that love.
A History to Be Proud Of
Pride can be celebrated in so many different ways. After all, it is all about confidence through vulnerability, and expressing yourself in a way that feels right to you. But in these expressions, it is important to remember why June has become the month to take part in such celebrations. Even today, there is so much hate experienced by the community, potentially hindering a celebration of love and differences. The LGTBQ2IA+ community has only recently been more encouraged to be proud of who they are, and who they love.
In June of 1969, the Stonewall riots began. These uprisings came as a result of the police raiding of the Stonewall Inn, a known gay club in NYC. The Stonewall uprisings marked a catalyst for change - a change in society, as well as how we treat one another as humans. The six days of protests following the raid of the Stonewall were gruesome and violent, but also revolutionary. As we take part in celebrating this month of June, we must also be proud of the history of Pride month itself.
Shades of Love
This year, VCFS has chosen to do a photoshoot in celebration of Pride month. In this shoot, the globally recognized symbol of pride, the rainbow, was used as inspiration. Each model was encouraged to choose a colour that they feel resonated with them personally. As you enjoy the visual demonstration of pride, colour, and love, take some time to read the statements from each model as they describe what Pride means to them.
Brendan Reid
To me, pride is my favourite time of the year because people feel the most comfortable to express their authentic selves, queer or not. Growing up in a small town while being gay was difficult and it was always the thing that made me different. Over time, I have learned to shift my perspective and now realize that being queer makes me stand out, whether that’s positive or negative to others, I don’t want to fit in and it’s the largest benefit to me. While learning to embrace my femininity and sexuality, I have had to face oppression and people saying that it it would be my downfall but every struggle has been worth where I am today in my comfort with myself. Now, it is what makes me Brendan. I won’t lie and say it is perfect all the time, there are still issues but pride is what helps us progress forward. The mentality of love for the LGBTQ+ community that is expressed during pride month is how we should live everyday.
Zach Riegler
Pride to me means the acceptance of yourself and not giving a damn about what anyone thinks. For me it was a gradual development of self acceptance that while taking a while to achieve, has made me the person I am.
Maggie Oxford
Pride, for me, is a celebration of the courage it took to finally let go and just be who I am. I grew up with homophobia being very normalized, from almost every authority figure I ever had, so Pride to me is a reminder that I’m not the first nor the last to feel desperately misunderstood, to have parts of who I am as a person to be blatantly rejected. I’m not the first to feel the need to apologize for something I cannot control, for something that is beautiful and natural. Pride is a recognition of the work done and sacrifices made by those who have come before me, so that I may have the right to love who I love, no matter their gender. Pride is a community coming together in vibrant colour to recognize the centuries for which we had to hide, and I think that’s lovely.
Lauren Barker
Pride means being open and loving to yourself and others. It means never allowing someone else to make you doubt yourself. Love, acceptance, and freedom all thrive from each other, and these values are the essence of pride to me.
Meenakashi Ghadi
Pride to me means feeling safe and free. To a higher degree of course. Being a queer person of colour, specifically a south Asian lesbian, there are so many times where I sacrifice my queer side for the sake of my own safety. As “out” as someone may be, you never know what they might be dealing with behind the scenes. One day I hope that in my personal life I can be my true self with no boundaries regardless of where I am or who I’m with, and pride brings our society one step closer.
Mustafa Aldawoudi
Pride to me means embracing the power inside of you to bring power to the people. This means fostering diversity, empathy, and inclusivity. It is a time to think about the positive change and freedom the LGTBQ+ community deserves through active justice and believing that you can change the world.
Sam Russel
To me, pride means being brave enough to share your most vulnerable and true self with the world!
Brock Reissner
To me, pride is the celebration of living authentically - a party to remind ourselves that we are a diverse community that is in this together, and that we should love and support one another unconditionally.
Maddie Bongard
Pride is the freedom to be truly yourself, without the fears of rejection, hurt or sadness. It’s true euphoria and resilience in your identity, and evokes true happiness! Pride is love!
So from us at VCFS: Happy Pride! But we also want to remind you to take pride. Take pride in what you do, who you love, and most importantly, who you are in your most true and authentic form.