With Pride season rapidly approaching in June, it is important to reflect on these events and the tremendous strides the LGBTQ+ community has made in the past decades. It is a time to show love for one another and supporting who you were born to be. While progress has been made, such as the repeal of the Defense Against Marriage Act (DOMA) which prohibited same-sex marriages, this country still has cases of bigotry and hate toward members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Pride showcases the love and support for the LGBTQ+ community across the country. I personally think it’s important for LGBTQ+ youth to see that there are so many resources available to them if they are struggling or if they have been kicked out of their home.

In 2017, 28 transgender people were targeted and violently murdered, according to the Human Rights Campaign. I think informing the public and teaching children to be tolerant and understanding is an essential step for breaking down barriers and moving towards acceptance.

According to research from the Williams Institute, over half of transgender kids are rejected by their parents when they come out. It is essential that resources for these children, like shelters and homes, partake in Pride marches and inform the public about their services so transgender youth may not only survive, but thrive. 

Pride.com states that the purpose of Pride is “to unite queer people to fight for our rights while educating our straight and cis allies on what it means to be LGBT.” 

As for Mobile, Pride is hosting a free festival at Cooper Riverside Park in downtown Mobile on Saturday, April 21, from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. It is a day for celebrating the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, informing others and being “stronger together,” the city of Mobile’s website stated.