June is going to be a hard month to leave. We came into this month with a movement of freedom and justice and we stand by it truly to its fullest extent. My month was filled with passion and resilience, but also, it was filled with love. Although June is not the only month I spend celebrating my two mommies, it is a month of love for the LGBTQIA+ community. Now, Pride month has become a time where everyone comes together to celebrate our differences and love of one another. In my personal opinion, I believe that Pride month should not be designated to one month out of the 12 we have a year; I think everyday should be spent celebrating and appreciating the unique and 100% normal human beings that we have on this Earth.

Having this month to spend with my moms is not something that we normally celebrate entirely. Being a younger member of the LGBTQIA+ community is a very different experience that being an older member. The love and the bravery is the same, but the involvement can be quite different. My parents have told me growing up to love everyone equally no matter the physical, mental, political and social differences. Living in our world today it is a bit different than it was back when my parents were younger. When they were younger, being gay or a lesbian was so taboo and frowned upon incredibly. My parents met each other in middle school and have been together since; that love inspires me every day. Although it inspires me, it was not something that many people approved of in the 70s and 80s.

My one mom grew up with a very religious family and when she came out to her parents they sent both her and my other mom to a conversion therapist to try and "fix" them. Of course, this is not the way to treat someone because their love should not be treated any differently that the "traditional" love relationship. Growing up that way took a toll on both of my parents, having to hide their love and sneak around with each other made them feel like they had to hide it from most people. This story makes me upset every time that I hear it. Because of those moments in their lives, they never really spoke out about their culture and the community that they belong to. My household doesn't throw any kind of parties or celebrate Pride in the way that most people do now.

I think because my parents don't celebrate in such large scales, that doesn't mean we don't appreciate the month any less. I think if we in our family know the love that we hold and project that love onto others, we don't have to throw extravagant parties. I am in no way shaming those who do, because I myself have gone to a Pride parade in my hometown, but knowing that we love one another is one hell of a way to celebrate the month of June.

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Love one another, that is what the world needs most right now, and change can start with you.