The Power of LGBTQ+ People to Change Things — From Portland youth to Pride! Steering Commitee member

As a 14-year-old, it was so exciting to have a parade, festival, and pier dance during the Pride celebration here in Portland. As a newly uncloseted youth, it was absolutely inspiring to see older people living their lives, being themselves, and flaunting all of those rainbows! I wasn’t even afraid to walk down the street holding my boyfriend’s hand or even to put on makeup. I felt like found my home.

After attending Pride religiously and volunteering my time almost every year, I eventually was elected to the new Pride Portland! Steering Committee in 2015. I learned that serving on the Pride committee was not only an honor but also a thankless and time-consuming task. It was a labor of love. I was driven by a desire to improve the community for all of the young (and not-so-young) LGBTQ+ people who were having their first Pride like I did nearly 10 years before. I wanted to be part of making space for them to wear makeup and hold their partners’ hands.