More Than a Celebration: Pride Saves Lives
- Christina Munro
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
June is Pride Month—a time of visibility, celebration, and resistance for the LGBTQ+ community. But for queer and trans people, especially youth, Pride is far more than a parade or party, it’s a lifeline. LGBTQ+ young people who lack affirming support face a significantly higher risk of suicide attempts—nearly five times the rate of their straight, cisgender peers1. Yet year after year, Pride is dismissed by some as a frivolous spectacle or corporate fanfare. What’s often forgotten is that Pride began—and continues—as a protest for dignity, safety, and human rights. At its core, Pride is life. It’s a community. It’s belonging. It’s suicide prevention.
Origins of Pride:
Pride was born not from balloons or glitter, but from resistance. The spark ignited in 1969 at the Stonewall Inn, where queer and trans people—led by trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera—rose up against relentless police brutality and systemic oppression. These were not celebrations; they were acts of defiance, demanding justice, dignity, and the right to exist.
Today, with anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and violence on the rise across the globe, the roots of Pride have never been more relevant. It must be remembered for what it truly is: not just a celebration, but a protest born of necessity.
Community Saves Lives:
The fight for equality is far from over—and that’s exactly why Pride still matters. In the face of discrimination and erasure, visibility and community save lives.
When LGBTQ+ people see themselves reflected with dignity—in big cities, small towns, and across media—it sends a powerful message: You are seen. You belong.
That kind of affirmation helps dismantle the shame and isolation so many carry, especially young people trying to understand who they are in a world that often tells them they shouldn’t exist.
Pride and Mental Health:
Rainbow flags, parades, and safe spaces aren’t just celebrations—they’re essential for queer mental health. Research consistently shows that affirming environments play a critical role in reducing suicide, depression, and self-harm among LGBTQ+ youth. According to The Trevor Project’s 2023 national survey, young people who felt supported by their families, schools, or communities were significantly less likely to attempt suicide than those who lacked that support1.
Validation of identity and consistent respect aren’t just nice to have, they are powerful protective factors. When grounded in visibility and inclusion, Pride Month can offer deep healing, empowerment, and hope. But without support, it can also reopen wounds, amplify feelings of exclusion, and resurface trauma.
That’s why queer-affirming mental health care isn’t a seasonal gesture—it’s a year-round necessity.
Who Still Gets Left Out:
Pride must also honor those within the community who face layered and compounded marginalization—Black and brown trans women, disabled queer folks, undocumented LGBTQ+ individuals, rural and low-income communities—people whose voices are too often silenced or overlooked, even within queer spaces.
For Pride to truly be life-saving, it must evolve. It must be more than performative. It must be intersectional, inclusive, and fiercely protective of all members of the LGBTQ+ community, not just the most visible or accepted.
To Therapists: Be affirming, not neutral. Your stance can be the difference between despair and survival, between silence and healing.
To Allies: Show up beyond Pride Month. Support isn’t a seasonal accessory—it’s a daily commitment to safety, justice, and care.
To LGBTQ+ Folks: Your life matters. Your identity is valid. You are not alone.
Signed,
Christina Munro, LSW
References:
1 The Trevor Project. (2023). 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/
Health Resources:
Pride Resources:
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