What I would say to a fellow member of our LGBTQ+ community:

• Live a life that you can be proud of your true self and love yourself for who you are.

What Pride Month means to me:

• Remembering the first pride parade always brings a smile to my face. It really opened my eyes and made me realize how big the community was and the amount of love and support that there was from all different types of people with such different types of backgrounds! I felt safe, I felt accepted and above all else I felt like I could be myself!

I’d love to shed light on some challenges we face:

• In my hometown of Dallas, Texas, the LGBTQ+ community is faced with a surmounting amount of opposition jeopardizing LGBTQ+ rights. The recent influx of anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation in the U.S. fuels discriminatory policies against the community. These issues aren’t only found here but are prevalent across various countries and such issues impacts everyone within the LGBTQ+ community. This is why it is important for me and us within the group to do our small part in helping support equality and promote understanding because it takes a whole community to fight for our right to live and love like everyone else!

What advice or messages of support would you share?

• Be open. Stay positive. Choose to be hopeful, joyful, and empowering. Always encourage others.

How are you celebrating Pride Month?

• Pride Month now has a whole new meaning for my family and I because as of this year we are celebrating the adoption of my son! It was finalized earlier this month, fittingly, and my wife and I cannot think of a better way to kickoff Pride Month than with the celebration of growing our family.

What advice or messages of support do you have for LGBTQ+ individuals?

• You are not alone; allies are everywhere! And as an ally, I am here to learn, listen, and support. Always.

What does Pride Month mean to you personally?

• Pride Month to me means community and acknowledgement, especially for LGBTQ+ youth. As an unapologetically supportive mother of an LGBTQ+ son, it matters that he is aware that there is a larger community that will support him, embrace him, and instill in him hope and confidence for the future.