It’s June, which undoubtedly means you’re seeing a lot of rainbow colors in stores, on social media, and all sorts of other places.
Since day 1 here at Alpine Parrot I've been lucky to be able to work closely with and for Alpine Parrot's LGBTQIA+ community and friends. I feel certain that we wouldn't be where we are today without them, and we continue to work for them—from how we talk about our products and sizing to those we collaborate with and support. This month, while we aren't changing our logo or swapping out the things we sell, we understand and celebrate the importance of what Pride is and means. With that in mind, I wanted to take a moment and write a bit about what Pride means to me, even as someone who identifies as straight and cisgendered, in an effort to acknowledge the important work we all must do for our community.
Pride is about so much more than rainbows and parades: it’s about owning one’s truth, finding acceptance, and mourning the loss of so many who are no longer here to live in their joy. It’s about fighting for a better present, so that future generations don’t have to suffer as much as their predecessors. It’s about knowing that no one is truly alone, because there are people out there who love you for who you are, exactly as you are, and who have been where you are now. It’s about joy, persistence, and fortitude.
At the end of the day, Pride isn’t a celebration that centers me - but its existence makes my life better. It gives me an opportunity to reflect on my privileges and my disadvantages, and to truly sit with the idea that none of us can truly know what someone else is going through. It pushes me to think about love in all its forms (romantic love, friendship, even self-love). And it pushes me to continuously strive to do and be better.
I hope it does the same for you, regardless of how you identify. I also hope that, however you identify, you feel and continue to feel welcome and accepted within our Alpine Parrot community for the uniqueness that is you. That is, at the end of the day, what we are all about.
Happy Pride, friends 💖
-Raquel
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