Tell us, what are you proud of?

Every year in the month of June, PRIDE is held to recognize the impact that LGBTQIA* individuals have had on local, national and international history and culture. The event is a time to commemorate the progress that has been made in redefining what "normal" looks and loves like while also coming together to honor the truths of the work still ahead. The month also serves as a reminder to build community, to be loud and proud, to celebrate sexual diversity and to promote self affirmation. In honor of PRIDE, the #BBATX team asked friends, family and the community to tell us what they're proud of. From self-growth to coming out to perservering and finding love and comfort in community, the answers revealed colorful moments — big and small — to be celebrated. Regardless of how you identify, who you love and or what you believe, we hope you take a moment this month to consider what you are proud of. 

I am proud of the strength our queer community shows consistently, whether as individuals, or as a group, in standing up to societal pressures that try to shove us into little boxes - we are powerful, and we take what we have, bring it to the forefront of ourselves, and never let it go. There is always work to be done, but we queer people never stop fighting for who we are, no matter the difficulties we face every day. It is a fact that is almost sad to endure, but we shine brightly even in the darkest of hours. - Chloe Brailsford

I'm so proud of the love we give to the world, no matter what. How we feel love, how we show love, who we love, we prove it doesn't matter. After Pulse, things were really hard. I could see it in my friends in the community, I could feel it in myself - the loss, the fear, the anger. But no force felt stronger to me, than the love we showed. A year after Pulse, that's what I'm most proud of.  - Antonia Gales

“I am proud/thankful of having the gift of gratitude. Every day is another opportunity to positively impact someone, to be creative, to love, share, grow, and genuinely make a difference!” - Cammrynn Stith

Knowing that other queer and trans people of color are fighting for queer and trans liberation makes me so orgulloso. We come from ancestors and elders who envisioned us now in the future. I'm proud to know that I am continuing the radical resistance they started in hopes of envisioning a better future for queer and trans folks of color. I'm so happy to be able to love all the different bodies in our community. - Endy Escobar

I am proud of myself for persevering. Back when I was 20 years old, I had a dream to create a children's TV show. I was so scared and terrified of failing but I just went for it. It was a lot of hard work and I overcame many obstacles during the process. Although the show didn't take off like I imagined, I persevered and that journey was instrumental in me discovering my passion for film and telling stories. - Funmi "Fum Fum Ko" Ogunro

Having pride means being forgetting about making others uncomfortable and accepting every aspect of myself. Being a part of pride months reinforces that I should never feel ashamed, and embrace all that I am every single day. — Devri Velazquez

What makes me proud is seeing the younger generations being more open, more compassionate, and standing up for themselves and each other. The generations before us fought so hard for us to get to this safer place, to be loud and proud without as much fear. Our community continues to grow more inclusive, we continue to become activists, not only for ourselves, but for those still struggling to be heard. I never thought I’d see the day where people feel safe enough to be themselves from day one — to see queer kids going to their high school prom with their partners without fear or shame, and with killer eyebrows, girls AND boys, to boot. We are redefining what is normal every day. We have so much to be grateful for because those before us fought to death to get us here. I’m proud to know so many of us are willing to continue to fight to death for those after us. There is pride in surviving, and there will be pride in progressing. - Yoomi Park

I'm proud, this month especially and every month, to teach people about my sexuality. When I tell people I'm pan, most people are very confused and ask me what exactly that means. So I get to teach them a little bit about what it means to be pan and what it specifically means to me. It doesn't happen a lot, but when it does I get all warm and fuzzy. I'm proud to be pan because I never felt "bi" really made space for who I was. Anyway, I'm really proud and happy to be who I am and love whoever I fall in love with next. - Deanna Crane

I'm so proud of my community. I'm proud of the spaces LGBTQIA people carved out and made sacrifices for so that I can feel safe, protected, and loved on. Thank you Cheer Up Charlie's, thank you DJ Girlfriend, thank you BossbabesATX, Thank you to The Q — Thank you, thank you, thank you. - Illyana Bocanegra

As a queer, cis Latina, I am proud of the resiliencies in my communities, particularly my queer and trans communities of color. We are beautiful. We are here. I am here for others while working towards a more complete understanding of my positionality and how to navigate spaces while honoring the work of our queer and trans elders and youth. In the words of Assata Shakur, "It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains." - Sara Zavaleta

I'm proud of myself for coming out to my family in the last month as a bisexual. They were super accepting and it made me feel more liberated than I've ever felt in my life. I'm no longer hiding this part of me and it feels amazing! - Lesly Washington