Dear Editor,

Pride gives us visibility, but the reverse is also true. Visibility gives us pride.

I have found that the more we live our lives out loud, the more people we inspire and empower both within and outside the LGBT community. Quite often we do it without even noticing.

Truthfully, there are many people who are unable to go out and celebrate PRiDE like some of us. But these same people look on from the sidelines and they celebrate through those of us who can.

Over the last couple of years many people in the community have shared that they admire the work we do through parties and other social events such as PRiDE JA. Typically they share their hope that one day they too will be brave enough to join us and celebrate at PRiDE and other such events.

Sometime ago a female told me that she hates ‘feminine clothes’ and how afraid she was to dress the way I dress. She told me that every time she sees me walking through Half-Way-Tree with my head held high, despite the negative comments that might be hurled at me, it empowers her to live in her own truth, to be herself, and to be comfortable in doing so.

So why do I PRiDE in a country where people believe such a celebration is unnecessary and offensive during our Emancipation and Independence celebrations?

I PRiDE for my community. The internal battle within us, as LGBT people, the self-hate, is way bigger than the battle we have to fight outside. I have come to realise that the homophobia and transphobia within us is sometimes the hardest to deal with. It is the ammunition people use to scare us and make us feel less than.

I PRiDE because it is important to highlight the positives around us. I PRiDE because it brings unity and makes us comfortable about our sexual orientation and gender identity.

At the PRiDE JA Sports Day, for example, we had four teams with four captains ready for the battle. Together we marched around the field under big rainbow and trans flags. Uptown and downtown came together. Men and women were unified in their support for their teams. It made me feel comfortable and happy.

Why I PRiDE? I PRiDE because it is my purpose to the live out loud.

Latoya Brown

LGBT event promoter