Longing for Belonging

We've been so lucky this year to attend more Pride festivals than ever before. Some were small, others were enormous, but they were all filled with enthusiastic members and Allies of the LGBTQIA+ community, all so relieved and happy to celebrate together in person for the first time in 3 years. There were also protesters, but they didn't seem to detract from the overall vibe of celebration.

What I'm really thinking about today is belonging, family, and community. At Pride, for every person who came into our booth with a supportive family, there were others who looked at our pins and buttons wishing for parents or siblings or a community who would really see them and accept them for who they are. The longing for belonging was palpable and heartbreaking.

We've come a long way, but there is so much more work to do. I am grateful to all of the organizations who continue to try and educate and inform, and who offer a welcoming presence. I would love to put together a list of places that folks can go to access what they need, whether it's about jobs or health or legal, related, or just a need to find a welcoming group. If you know of such a group be sure and let me know and I'll add it to the list we will create on our website.

Most importantly, we love you, you are loveable and worth finding a community where you feel seen, heard, and accepted for who you are.

Onward to a holiday with belonging and joy.

as always, thanks for being part of the community-

lots of love,

Ellin (she/her)

https://becauseimproudstudio.com