Youth Pride Across the U.S.: Young People in 5 Cities Share What LGBTQ Pride Means to Them
This year's LGBTQ Pride month marked the 50th year since an uprising at the Stonewall Inn in New York helped bring earlier LGBTQ organizing out of the shadows and launched a movement into the light of day.
All of June, Teen Vogue was at pride events across the country talking to young people about their experiences of the festivals and parades that now dominate so many event calenders. We're proud to present this collection of photos from Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Portland, Oregon; San Antonio, Texas; and Anchorage, Alaska.
While Pride month itself may be officially over, these young folks are a reminder that pride never really has to end.
Elizabeth De La Piedra1/34Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee held its annual PrideFest June 6-9 at Henry W. Maier Festival Park. Organizers believe the city’s first pride celebration came in 1974, with official events starting in 1988. The city also had a Pride Parade on June 9 with a route through its Harbor View neighborhood ending about a mile from the festival grounds.
Elizabeth De La Piedra2/34"I'm looking for like-minded, accepting people. It's harder finding acceptance with my peers."
-Will (they/them)
Elizabeth De La Piedra3/34"I want to be surrounded by people who actually support me."
-Regina (pronouns undecided)
Elizabeth De La Piedra4/34"Celebrate love."
-Jesse Pruett (they/them)
Elizabeth De La Piedra5/34"I'm gay and it feels nice seeing all different types of people."
-Lynasia (she/her, right), pictured with with her sister Maleka (she/her)
Elizabeth De La Piedra6/34"I'm at Pride to celebrate the community and see how far we've come."
-Allie (they/them, left), pictured with Baiya (she/her)
Elizabeth De La Piedra7/34"Pride is important to me to keep everything alive."
-Al Johnson (they/them or he/him)
Kate Sweeney8/34Columbus, Ohio
Columbus celebrated Pride for the 38th year on June 15 with a parade that kicked off near Goodale Park in the city’s Short North Arts District and ended at the city’s Pride festival grounds at Bicentennial and Genoa Parks.
Kate Sweeney9/34"Be who you are. You might lose friends and family but what matters is being true to yourself."
-Austin Wilson (he/him)
Kate Sweeney10/34"Spread love!"
-Inisa (she/her)
Kate Sweeney11/34"Pride makes me feel empowered, loved, accepted, and at home."
-Kaylah (she/her), pictured with Jason (he/him), Sara (she/her), Abby (she/her), Brooke (she/her), Lily (she/her), and Trinity (she/her)
Kate Sweeney12/34"I feel like, as a community, we’ve come so far, and I couldn’t be more proud of my city!"
-Lizzie Gill (she/her)
Kate Sweeney13/34“This is so exciting! Everyone comes together and you can feel the love.”
-Sela McCall (she/her, right), pictured with Salena Roberts (she/her) and Josephine Heck (she/her, center)
Kate Sweeney14/34"Just continue to celebrate love. Love always wins."
-Candra (she/her, right), pictured with Nicola (she/her)
Jason Kent15/34Portland, Oregon
Portland celebrated Pride with a two-day festival starting June 15 and a June 16 parade that ended at the festival grounds at Tom McColl Waterfront Park. Organizers say the city has celebrated Pride since the 1970s.
Jason Kent16/34"It's so gratifying seeing everyone here so happy and fulfilled."
-Marcéline Kilassa (she/her)
Jason Kent17/34"It feels awesome being here and being able to show pride with my girlfriend."
-Annabelle Burke (she/her, right), pictured with Lauren Yee (she/her)
Jason Kent18/34"Pride makes me feel welcomed in Portland."
-Angel Lujan (they/them or he/him)
Jason Kent19/34"Super hyped for my first Pride!"
-Arenaria Cramer (she/her)
Jason Kent20/34"It's so empowering to show off my love at Pride."
-Eric Moore (he/him, right), pictured with Jeffrey Fellas (he/him)
Jason Kent21/34"So genuinely happy and truly amazed with everyone's pride!"
-Lexi Biddy (she/her)
Lauren Withrow22/34San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio’s Pride Parade and Festival (nicknamed “Pride Bigger Than Texas”) took place on June 29, with the parade making its way through Crockett Park, where the festival was held. Organizers say the city’s pride events started in 2004.
Lauren Withrow23/34"I feel welcomed and like I belong."
-Alencia (she/her, bottom), pictured with Dajah (she/her)
Lauren Withrow24/34"For the first time all year, we are seen and not judged!"
-Nathaniel (he/him)
Lauren Withrow25/34"Coming from such a close-minded area, being around others like me is breath-taking."
-Alicia (she/her)
Lauren Withrow26/34"I'm happy that we have a day to openly celebrate our sexuality."
-Ariel Jeter (right, she/her), pictured with Chakera (she/her)
Lauren Withrow27/34"It's a really awesome experience to connect to a community."
-Enrique (he/him, right), pictured with Dajah and Alencia
Mikey Huff28/34Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage marked Pride with a week of festivities including a parade and festival on Saturday, June 29, centered around Delaney Park near the city’s downtown area. According to organizers, Anchorage’s annual pride celebration started in 1977.
Mikey Huff29/34"I have been coming to pride since I was 7 years old. This year is so vibrant, and the sun is just adding to it."
-Monique (she/her)
Mikey Huff30/34"It's open, it's carefree, and for this community to come to a place where they can be carefree, that's really special."
-Tatum (she/her, left), pictured with twin sister Piper (she/her)
Mikey Huff31/34"This year is just so much more colorful. I'm so excited to be here. If I had to sum it up in one word, I just feel support."
-Gillian (she/her)
Mikey Huff32/34"I’m more out than last year so I’m comfortable and it's easier for me to be myself. It’s cool to see people supporting — you almost don’t expect this out of Alaska."
-Gabby (she/her, right), pictured with Holt (he/him)
Mikey Huff33/34"This year, the main difference for me is I'm not alone. My friends are coming along, its so much better to be here with a group."
-Liv (she/her)
Mikey Huff34/34"I can’t even imagine what it would be like if it was always like this. You know what the mood is? Trans rights. That’s the mood right there."
-Jazzlyn (she/her)
