As June paints the town with hues of rainbows and vibrant smiles bloom like wildflowers, we again find ourselves in the heart of Pride Month. It is a time of celebration, reflection, and an annual reminder of the journey we, as the LGBTQ+ community, have traversed. This month, I wish to pen down a letter, a letter addressed to a person I was, to the young, queer person finding their way in the world.

Dear Younger Self,

Happy Pride Month!

I know it might sound foreign to you, an occasion to celebrate the vibrant being that you are. But believe me, a day will come when you will bask in the sunlight of authenticity, a radiant spectrum casting a prismatic glow on your existence.

I want you to know it’s okay. It’s okay to feel the confusion and fear. It’s okay to grapple with an identity that doesn’t fit into the neat, monochrome boxes society has pre-assigned. And, above all, it’s okay to be different.

Remember the countless nights you spent curled under your blanket, teardrops staining your pillow, yearning to fit in, to be ‘normal’? Those nights were dark, indeed, but each dawn brought you closer to understanding that ‘normal’ is but an illusion. Each sunrise nudged you closer to your true self.

It’s true that you’ll meet adversity on this path. There will be people, institutions, even parts of yourself that will attempt to suppress your colors, to dim your light. They might hurt you, might make you feel less than. But let me tell you, their perceptions do not define you.

Hold onto the truth of your identity, for it is the compass that will guide you through the darkest storms. Embrace your queer self, your unique colors. They are not a mistake; they are the hues that make you beautiful. Remember, the world is richer for its diversity, and you are an integral part of that.

One day, you’ll stop looking for validation in the eyes of others and start finding it within. And that day, your journey towards authentic living will truly begin. You will learn to love who you are, to appreciate the journey that led you here, and to anticipate the adventures yet to come.

Be patient with yourself, dear heart. Growth takes time. Self-acceptance is a journey, not a destination. And it’s okay to stumble and fall along the way, as long as you rise again, stronger and more resilient.

As I write to you from a future where you are living authentically, I want to tell you: it gets better. It gets so much better. There will be a time when you’ll proudly wear your identity, not as a shield, but as a celebration of who you truly are.

During Pride Month, and every month thereafter, remember that you are part of a resilient, vibrant community. A community that knows pain, yes, but one that also knows the profound joy of love, acceptance, and unity. Reach out to them. Learn from them. Grow with them. And remember, you are never alone.

Finally, younger self, remember that your existence, your identity, your queerness is a revolution. Every day you choose to be true to yourself, you are defying the odds, challenging the norms, and shaping a world where love is not bound by conditions.

Here, in the heart of Pride Month, I celebrate you: for your courage, your resilience, your unfading light. I celebrate the journey you’ve embarked on, and the authenticity that awaits you.

Keep going, dear one. The world awaits your colors.

With all the love, pride and hope in the world, Your Older Self.