Celebrating LGBTQ2+ Pride is Celebrating Mental Health

Written By Ashley Krombach (she/her)

Note: Throughout this post you will see the acronym LGBTQ2+ (shortened from LGBTQQIP2SAA+) which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (or sometimes questioning), two-spirit, and others. The plus sign is intended to be an all-encompassing representation of the many sexual orientations and gender identities. Learn more about these identities with the national glossary of terms from Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).

Most recognizable by the rainbow symbol, the month of June rings in LGBTQ2+ Pride Month in the United States. Pride Month is celebrated each June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots and the efforts of those who have worked to pursue equality for all members of the LGBTQ2+ community (Hegarty & Rutherford, 2019). Pride is many things including:

  • Learning to feel at home in yourself – no matter where you are on your journey to self-love and acceptance

  • Learning about LGBTQ2+ history and honoring the Black and Indigenous elders who paved the way for a future where all could feel loved and accepted for exactly who they are

  • Validating and affirming intersectional identities and unique lived experiences through the fight for equal rights and social justice

It’s a time of liberation, celebration, and remembrance. It stands to bring attention to both the progress made and the work ahead in protecting human rights for all.

LGBTQ2+ Pride is Mental Health

Core to our health and well-being is our need to feel safe and supported. Developed by psychologist, Abraham Maslow, the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs looks at human motivation - citing that five areas of need (ranging from basic to complex) need to be met in order for humans to feel safe, supported, and motivated to become their best self. For marginalized communities, systemic barriers and social inequities can make it challenging for these needs to be met. In fact, research shows:

  • LGBTQ2+ youth are more likely to have been bullied at school (33%), seriously considered suicide (48%), felt sad or hopeless (63%), and used illicit drugs (23%) than their peers (CDC, 2019).  

  • LGBTQ2+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than non-LGBTQ2+ identifying teens (ADAA, 2018)

  • LGBTQ2+ youth are more than twice as likely to feel suicidal and over four times as likely to attempt suicide compared to heterosexual youth (HRC, 2017).

While the research shines a light on the harrowing impact of social stigma on LGBTQ2+ youth, it also shines a light on the many ways in which pride can serve as a protective factor when facilitated through affirming spaces and access to resources and support.

In 2021, The Trevor Project conducted their National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. Overall, 85% of LGBTQ2+ youth reported high levels of LGBTQ2+ pride, and those with high levels of pride had close to 20% lower odds of attempting suicide in the past year compared to those with lower levels of LGBTQ2+ pride (The Trevor Project, 2021).


LGBTQ2+ Pride is about learning to love and accept yourself for exactly who you are. It serves as the foundation of healing, self-discovery, and the ability to shine a light for others to do the same. Everyone deserves to be seen and celebrated without fear of shame and rejection. When creating the space to uplift and honor the meaning and history of Pride Month, we can simultaneously bring awareness to the role we each play in ensuring everyone – no matter their identity – has access to a world where they are free to be nothing short of themselves.

How to Celebrate - For Yourself or For Someone Else

The celebration of LGBTQ2+ Pride looks differently for different people – depending on where they are on their journey of self-discovery and/or allyship. Allyship is a term used to define the lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people to understand positions of privilege and power in order to operate in solidarity (Anti-Oppression Network). The strides made in advancing and protecting equal rights for the LGBTQ2+ community would not have been possible without allies.

It is through community and a space of listening, learning, and reflection that the work celebrated and honored during Pride Month can carry on throughout the year.

  • Learn, Listen & Uplift

    • Create space to learn about the history of Pride - the story behind the rainbow, the history of the Pride parade, and the Black and Indigenous leaders who sparked activism and paved the way for progress towards equality.

    • Listen to and uplift the voices of the LGBQT2+ community. Listen to podcasts, find local or virtual events, and share their messages on social media, with loved ones, and reflect.

    • Reflect on your capacity. Check in on biases and create space to learn about the intersection of different identities. As someone who identities as an LGBTQ2+ person - check in on how you are feeling. Remember that your story is only for you - what it looks like and the pace in which it unfolds is for you to decide. It’s important to celebrate every step of your journey.

  • Celebrate & Create

    • Attend a Pride parade or event and celebrate LGBTQ2+ joy.

    • Express yourself through art. Reflect on how you are feeling throughout the month, your identity, and where you are on your journey - to self-love and acceptance and/or allyship. Use art (e.g., writing, music, dancing, painting, etc.) to process and tell your story.

  • Take Action.

    • Volunteer for an LGBTQ2+ organization in your community or discover other ways to get involved and show support.

    • Advocate for change and equal protections by getting familiar with local, state, and federal legislation and connecting with elected officials.

    • Support local queer-owned businesses.

Resources and Support

Discover resources from organizations in the field by clicking into the lists below.

Ashley Krombach (she/her)
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