Why Pride Matters More Than Ever This Year

Reclaiming queer liberation from corporate hands and far-right backlash

Photos by author

I’ll always remember the first Pride I attended — San Francisco, California back in 2010.

I marched next to the Curve Magazine float, beneath a bright arch of colorful balloons. We handed out copies of their freshly printed 20th-anniversary issue (with newly out country singer Chely Wright on the cover) to the crowd.

I felt a part of something bigger than myself.

Later in the day, queer friends and I mingled on the Civic Center Lawn while the Backstreet Boys performed. The beers were flowing, the laughter was loud, and for a few hours, it felt like nothing could touch us.

Since then, I’ve experienced Pride across continents. In Montevideo, Uruguay, rainbow confetti rained from balconies as strangers shouted “¡Orgullo!” from above. In Sacramento, I ended up on stage with Jeff Timmons from 98 Degrees — a surreal moment I hadn’t seen coming, given they were one of my favorite boy bands in the ’90s.

In Puerto Vallarta, the parade ended at the beach, where we danced barefoot on sand-filled flip-flops while a DJ mixed Zumba anthems and U.S. pop hits.