Pride Is Not Just a Day - Jessie Taylor

Pride isn’t a single moment, a festival, or even a month. It’s a mindset. It’s the everyday choice to show up authentically, to stand up for yourself and your community, and to celebrate the vibrant spectrum of who we are. Greensboro Pride 2025 reminded us of that in the most vivid, unforgettable ways, the laughter, the music, the performances, the colors. But the real power of Pride happens long before and long after a single Saturday.

‍

As we came together this year, we celebrated milestones and firsts. From the crowning of our first-ever Greensboro Pride Mx and Miss Trans Pride to the incredible performances on multiple stages, the weekend was alive with joy, creativity, and expression. Communities gathered, families connected, and people felt seen in ways that matter. These moments are more than memories; they are a reminder of why Pride exists in the first place.

‍

And yet, alongside the celebration, we cannot ignore the struggles our community continues to face. Recent attacks on the Trans community and ongoing acts of discrimination against LGBTQIA people remind us that Pride is as much about resistance as it is about celebration. Pride is courage. Pride is visibility. Pride is standing together when the world around us feels hostile.

‍

The spirit of Pride thrives not only in grand gestures but in the everyday acts of care and solidarity. It’s in checking in on a friend who might be struggling, amplifying voices that are too often ignored, and creating spaces where everyone, no matter their identity, feels seen, celebrated, and safe. It’s about making sure that no one in our community ever feels alone or invisible.

‍

At Greensboro Pride, we saw the community in action. The gender-affirming closet gave away essential items to those who needed them, the bookmobile handed out countless LGBTQIA-themed books, and volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure every person could feel welcome and supported. These moments may seem small on their own, but together they weave the fabric of a stronger, more resilient community.

‍

Pride is also about remembering where we came from. Next June, we will walk together in the March to Remember, paying tribute to the courage and resistance of those who sparked the modern LGBTQIA rights movement at Stonewall. As we move through the heart of our city, we will honor their legacy, demand equality, and show solidarity with the ongoing fight for justice. The march is a living testament to the power of collective action, a reminder that every step we take together matters.

‍

Every action we take, no matter how small, carries the spirit of Pride forward. Standing up for someone in need, speaking out against injustice, or simply showing love and support within our own circles, these are the ways we keep Pride alive outside of a single weekend. Joy and resistance go hand in hand, and both are essential to the health and growth of our community.

‍

So don’t wait for next year’s festival or next month’s observance. Let the memories, the love, and the resilience we experienced at Greensboro Pride guide you. Step up, speak out, and act, whether it’s volunteering, supporting LGBTQIA causes, or simply being a friend who shows up when it matters most. Pride is every day, and it’s ours to carry forward.

‍

Together, we make our community stronger. Together, we honor those who came before us and create a future where LGBTQIA people can thrive. Pride is not just a day, it is the sum of every choice we make to live authentically, support one another, and demand the world we know is possible.

‍

Jessie Taylor

Executive Director

‍

‍