Pride Every Day: The Need for True Allyship in Therapy and in Families
Welcome to June – the month when the world embraces summer with warm weather, sunshine, and, most importantly, Pride Month.
For many LGBTQIA+ individuals, June is a time to celebrate authenticity, showcase who we are, and highlight the importance of Queer love in the world. But even as rainbow merch fills store shelves and Pride festivals light up our cities, the truth is that June is not inherently safer for Queer people.
The visibility that Pride brings, while vital to affirming our identities, can also create more danger. In many parts of the United States, especially where I’m located in Florida, being Queer means facing a complex mix of celebration and fear, acceptance and hostility.
In 2025, being Queer in the U.S. isn’t just about glitter and rainbows. It’s about erasure, limitation, and navigating the fear of not knowing what the future holds. Between 2024 and 2025, LGBTQIA+ people, especially trans individuals, have been directly targeted by policies that limit our rights and access to life-saving healthcare. The climate of legal and societal hostility, especially in states like Florida, makes it hard to celebrate Pride without acknowledging the ongoing fight for basic rights. Laws restricting what can be taught in schools and banning access to gender-affirming care create a hostile environment where our rights to exist openly and authentically are constantly in question. Pride Month becomes a bittersweet reminder of how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go.
Yes, it's great to see rainbow flags in stores and corporate logos turning colorful in June. But real allyship goes beyond symbols. It’s about showing up for Queer people year-round, advocating for policy change, supporting mental health needs, and actively opposing harmful legislation.
The fight for basic rights doesn’t end with the last Pride parade of the year. For Queer people in Florida and beyond, it’s a battle that continues every day. It’s a fight for the right to exist, for the freedom to love, and for the pursuit of happiness like any other citizen. Anxiety about what laws will pass and whether we’ll continue to be welcome in our communities affects our mental health in ways that many don’t fully understand. As a therapist, I see firsthand how deeply this fear impacts my clients. This is why true allyship matters now more than ever.
As someone who identifies as Queer, this message is deeply personal to me. It’s not easy to share my identity in a public space, especially when it means that my family or potential clients may read this about me for the first time. But it’s important to me that I live authentically, not just in my personal life but also in my professional role. I’ve come to understand that it’s crucial for Queer people to be visible, to celebrate who they are, and to resist the systems that seek to diminish us. I’ve spent my career working to create spaces for others to feel seen and validated. This post is part of that commitment.
Pride Month is a reminder that Queer people don’t just take to the streets to celebrate. We do it to resist the forces that try to silence us. No matter how hard the fight, we are here. Our love is worth celebrating.
Practical Tips for Family Members and Friends
1. Listen Without Judgment
For family members and friends, creating a safe space for your loved one to share their identity is key. Don’t make assumptions about their journey or push them to share more than they’re comfortable with. Be patient, open, and listen without judgment.
2. Educate Yourself
It’s important to understand the challenges that LGBTQIA+ individuals face. Educate yourself about terminology, common issues within the community, and what it means to be an ally. Resources are available online to help guide your learning.
3. Celebrate Year-Round
Being an ally doesn’t stop after Pride Month. Show your support year-round by using affirming language, participating in events, and showing up when your loved one needs you most. Genuine allyship is an ongoing commitment to loving and respecting your LGBTQIA+ family members.
4. Respect Their Privacy and Boundaries
Respect your loved one’s right to privacy and understand that they may not be ready to share everything with you. Let them set the pace for their journey and be supportive without being overbearing.
5. Stand Up Against Discrimination
Use your voice to challenge harmful rhetoric or discrimination when you encounter it. Whether it's a family gathering or in public spaces, standing up for LGBTQIA+ rights makes a difference and shows your loved one that you have their back.
Practical Tips for Therapists
1. Educate and Listen Actively
As a therapist, understanding the unique challenges LGBTQIA+ people face is essential. Educate yourself about current issues, laws, and the diversity within the community. Stay informed and open-minded, especially when it comes to pronouns, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
2. Be Affirmative with Language
Create a safe space by using inclusive, affirming language. This includes using clients' correct names and pronouns, and being open to corrections. Every adjustment shows your respect for their identity and strengthens the therapeutic relationship.
3. Acknowledge and Support Minority Stress
LGBTQIA+ individuals face chronic stress due to societal discrimination. As a therapist, it’s crucial to understand how this stress manifests in emotional health and work with clients to develop coping strategies for managing discrimination and other external pressures.
4. Advocate for Policy Change
True allyship extends beyond therapy. Use your platform to advocate for policies that protect LGBTQIA+ rights. Whether it’s through supporting legal reforms or speaking out against harmful legislation, your voice can make a difference. Being an advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights is an essential part of allyship.
5. Provide Resources and Support
Know your local resources and support networks for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Share resources for gender-affirming healthcare, support groups, and legal assistance. Being knowledgeable about these resources demonstrates that you’re an ally beyond the therapy room.
True allyship is about more than surface-level support; it’s about consistent action, advocacy, and standing in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ individuals every day. Whether you’re a family member, friend, therapist, or ally, creating spaces of safety, showing up when it counts, and using your voice to advocate for change is how we make real progress.
Pride is not just a month. It’s a lifelong commitment to acceptance, visibility, and love. Let’s continue to work together to ensure that Queer people can live authentically, safely, and proudly, not just during Pride Month, but every day of the year.
Because, isn’t that the goal in the Land of the Free? Or are we only making it “free” for certain identities and people?
Resources for Support and Advocacy
If you're seeking support or ways to get involved, here are some organizations dedicated to serving the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly in Florida:
The Trevor Project: Provides 24/7 crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth.
Equality Florida: Florida's largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s LGBTQ community.
Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center: Offers mental health services and support for LGBTQ+ individuals in Palm Beach County.
SunServe: Provides mental health services and support for LGBTQ+ individuals in South Florida.
Pridelines: Offers support, housing, and health services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults in Miami-Dade County.
The Center Orlando: Provides advocacy, education, and support services for the LGBTQ+ community in Central Florida.
NAMI Greater Orlando: Offers support groups and resources for LGBTQIA+ individuals facing mental health challenges.
LGBT National Help Center: Provides confidential peer-support, information, and local resources for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Trans Lifeline: A peer-support hotline offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis.
OutCare Health: Offers a directory of LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare providers and resources.
Florida LGBTQ+ Housing Resources by SAGE: Provides information on LGBTQ+ inclusive housing options for older adults in Florida.
