This is the time of year I write my column reflecting back on the Pride, summer season, and there are always mixed feelings for me. On the one hand, if you know me, I’m not a summer person, not outdoorsy, not rainbow, not social, and not colorful. I’m thick, pale, goth, and love the cold and dark colors. So Pride season, especially because I also mix in a lot of live music stuff, is EXHAUSTING.
But, corny as it may sound, I’m still super grateful at the end of each Pride season. I have an awesome job doing what I love, and the forced exercise and vitamin C is probably not a bad thing. Plus, I always end up making new friends and having some cool memories.
This year is truly weird and different. Not exhausted from multiple, outdoor events, I feel like the summer came and went, and the heaviness of the protesting, tragedies, and COVID casualties have settled over everyone.
I do miss the outdoor gatherings, the concerts, the sweaty Pride events. This introverted goth girl who prefers the indoors misses it. But I truly believe that this can be a global reset, and that we can take this momentum and move forward with more social justice, more inclusive and accessible events, and more true diversity.
So, keep your head up, and keep showing your Pride your own way, whether that is protesting, wearing your rainbow colors all year long, or staying connected to friends and chosen family. We love you, and we’ll see you next year.
-Addison Herron-Wheeler
