It's been 50 years since the Stonewall Riots, we take a look back at the history and the current status of Pride. Many people feel LGBTQ+ Pride is a time to get drunk and party hard. One person I know actually said that Pride is just about sexual liberation, and a wise person described to me “Pride is like God or religion - it means something different to everyone.” One must not judge and instead try to understand the deep-rooted hatred from where Pride was born. Once you do, you may understand that sometimes, after all that oppression, one needs to just let go, be free and celebrate.

Many people feel that by attending Pride events, they are making a positive statement in favor of the LGBTQ+ community. However, please remember that just participating at Pride events is not enough. Year round, you must seek out stores and venues that contribute positively to the LGBTQ+ community, not just the ones who put a rainbow on something in the month of June and profit