What I, as a trans woman, am feeling is something many people feel at the end of Pride Month: a mixture of gratitude, hope and a little sadness. For 30 days there are visible reminders that LGBTQ+ people are seen, valued and celebrated. Then July arrives, the flags come down, the parades end, and it can feel as though the spotlight moves elsewhere.
The challenge is remembering that Pride was never meant to be a destination. It was meant to be a catalyst.
For many LGBTQ+ people — especially myself and other transgender people — the most meaningful moments of Pride aren’t the festivals or rainbow logos. They’re the quiet acts of humanity: a neighbor who shows support, an ally who speaks up when someone is targeted, a company that stands by its values even when it isn’t convenient, a family member who chooses love over fear. Those moments matter because they can happen every day of the year.
Perhaps the question isn’t “How do we keep Pride Month going?” but rather “How do we carry its lessons forward?”
Pride reminds us that visibility matters. It reminds allies that their voices matter. It reminds communities that diversity is not a threat but a strength. And it reminds all of us that kindness is not weakness — it is a deliberate choice.
The reality is that hatred often gets more attention than kindness. It makes louder headlines. It dominates social media. It fuels political campaigns. But hatred is not the whole story. The thousands of people who march in parades, the businesses that openly support inclusion, the faith communities that welcome everyone, the parents who stand beside their children, and the friends who simply say, “I see you and I care about you” — they are part of the story too.
As a transgender woman, I’ve experienced both sides of that reality. I know what it feels like to encounter misunderstanding and hostility. But I’ve also experienced something powerful this month: evidence that there are far more people willing to stand with me than those who stand against me.
Maybe the answer is simpler than we sometimes think. We don’t need Pride Month’s decorations every day. We need Pride Month’s spirit every day.
A flag can be taken down. A parade lasts only a few hours. But kindness can be practiced year-round. Respect can be shown year-round. Courage can be demonstrated year-round. And love can be extended year-round.
If there is one thing worth carrying from June into every other month, it is this: We all have the ability to make another person’s life a little safer, a little kinder, and a little more welcoming. If enough people choose that path, Pride doesn’t end on June 30. It simply changes from a celebration into a way of living.
The real measure of Pride isn’t how many flags were flown in June. It’s how we treat one another in July, August, and every month that follows.For all of you that participated in any of the many Pride events this June, especially in the Park City area, Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Cami Richardson
Kamas