Happy Pride Winona!

Hello, lovely humans!

Growing up, I was raised in a rather conservative and very Catholic world. In that world, I was taught that “pride” was something to avoid. Pride always carried a negative connotation, something a person should never hold within themselves. I was taught that all good things came from God, never from ourselves. This belief was affirmed over and over throughout much of my life, even through college, when I first came out as a queer person. 

When I entered the queer community, I saw people speak about Pride with celebration, affirmation, and joy. I truly could not wrap my brain around the idea. It took years, and a great deal of unlearning, before I could embrace the concept myself. The shift from being ashamed of who we are to being proud of who we are is one that many in our community have experienced.

Some of us reading this newsletter may still be working to change that mindset. It takes time. It takes work. It takes self-love and love from our fellow community members. Pride is not about believing we are better than anyone else. It is about believing that we are worthy of love, safety, dignity, and community exactly as we are. 

As we continue through this month of June, the month where many of us are placed into a spotlight by the world, I encourage each of you to reflect on what Pride truly means to you. How do you see it in the way you express yourself? In the way you interact with those around you?

And if you are not able to show your whole self right now, that’s okay. We see you. We hear you. We stand with you.

Proud. Unapologetic. Forever here.

With love this Pride Month

Anthony Ellis