June marks Pride Month, a time when we celebrate the resilience, courage, and contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community while acknowledging both how far we’ve come and the work that still lies ahead. If you have loved ones who are part of this or other marginalized communities, you know that true support goes beyond rainbows and colorful parades—it requires a genuine commitment to understanding, advocacy, and creating spaces where LGBTQIA+ individuals can thrive.
Whether you’re new to allyship or looking to deepen your support, here’s how you can meaningfully honor Pride Month while prioritizing the mental health and well-being of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Understanding the Basics: Why Pride Month Matters
Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969, when LGBTQIA+ individuals at the Stonewall Inn in New York City courageously resisted police harassment and discrimination. This pivotal moment sparked the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement and established June as a time to celebrate progress while continuing the fight for equality.
Today, Pride Month serves as both a celebration and a call to action. It honors those who came before us—the courageous, the resilient, the ones who fought tirelessly for the rights and recognition the LGBTQIA+ community holds today. Their strength laid the foundation for a brighter future, and it’s our responsibility to continue building on that legacy.
Authentic Ways to Show Support
Supporting the LGBTQIA+ community requires intentional action and genuine commitment. Here are meaningful ways to show your support, not just during Pride Month, but throughout the year.
1. Educate Yourself About LGBTQIA+ Experiences
The most powerful tool in allyship is knowledge. Take time to learn about LGBTQIA+ history, current challenges, and the diverse experiences within the community. Understanding concepts like minority stress, intersectionality, and the unique mental health challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals creates a foundation for meaningful support.
Consider exploring resources from organizations like The Trevor Project, GLAAD, and the Human Rights Campaign. Read books by LGBTQIA+ authors, watch documentaries about queer history, and listen to podcasts that amplify LGBTQIA+ voices.
2. Attend Pride Events Respectfully
If you choose to attend Pride events, remember that you’re entering spaces created by and for the LGBTQIA+ community. Be respectful, follow the lead of LGBTQIA+ individuals, and understand that some spaces may not be meant for allies. Your role is to support, not to center yourself in the narrative.
Consider volunteering at Pride events, supporting LGBTQIA+-owned vendors, or attending educational workshops and panel discussions that deepen your understanding of community issues.
3. Support LGBTQIA+ Businesses and Organizations
Economic support creates a lasting impact. Seek out LGBTQIA+-owned businesses, from local cafes to online retailers. Donate to organizations working for LGBTQIA+ rights, youth services, and healthcare access. When possible, prioritize mutual aid efforts that directly support community members.
Research organizations thoroughly to ensure your donations support authentic advocacy rather than performative initiatives. Look for groups that center LGBTQIA+ voices and are led by community members themselves.
4. Use Your Voice for Advocacy
Advocacy extends far beyond Pride Month. Contact your representatives about LGBTQIA+ rights legislation, support inclusive policies in your workplace, and speak up against discrimination in your daily life. Share educational content on social media, but always amplify LGBTQIA+ voices rather than speaking over them.
Remember that advocacy isn’t just about grand gestures—it’s about consistent, everyday actions that create safer, more inclusive environments.
5. Practice Inclusive Language Year-Round
Respectful language matters every day, not just during Pride Month. Use people’s chosen names and pronouns, avoid assumptions about relationships or identities, and gently educate others when you witness inappropriate language or behavior.
Add your pronouns to email signatures and social media profiles, ask for pronouns when meeting new people, and create environments where everyone feels comfortable sharing their authentic selves.
Supporting LGBTQIA+ Mental Health
LGBTQIA+ individuals face significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation due to discrimination and societal rejection. The Trevor Project estimates that 41% of LGBTQIA+ young people seriously considered suicide in the past year, making mental health support a critical component of allyship.
Understanding the unique trauma faced by the LGBTQIA+ community helps us provide more meaningful support and create healing environments where everyone can thrive.
How to Support Someone Who's Struggling
If someone in your life is facing mental health challenges, here’s how you can help:
- Listen without judgment: Create a safe space for them to share their experiences
- Validate their feelings: Acknowledge that their struggles are real and understandable
- Help them find resources: Research LGBTQIA+-affirming therapists and support groups in your area. Gender-affirming mental health treatment can be particularly important for transgender and gender-diverse individuals
- Check in regularly: A simple “How are you doing?” can make a significant difference
- Learn about crisis resources: Know how to connect them with immediate help if needed
- Respect their privacy: Let them decide what they’re comfortable sharing and with whom
You don’t need to be a therapist to be supportive. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply show up consistently and remind them they’re not alone.
Building Deeper Connections
While social media posts and Pride parade attendance are excellent ways to show support, the most meaningful allyship often occurs in everyday moments throughout the year. Whether it’s at work, in your personal relationships, or in your communities, building authentic relationships creates a lasting impact that extends far beyond Pride Month.
Consider how you can deepen your support through:
- Consistency: Supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals year-round, not just during Pride Month
- Accountability: Examining your own biases and continuously learning
- Amplification: Using your privilege to elevate LGBTQIA+ voices and causes
- Financial Investment: Contributing money to LGBTQIA+ organizations and causes
- Policy Engagement: Advocating for systemic changes that benefit the community
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Every step you take toward understanding and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community makes a difference, and your genuine effort to learn and grow is what matters most.
Creating Lasting Change
Pride Month serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to build more inclusive communities, but the work extends far beyond June.
Pride Month provides an opportunity to reflect on how we can foster more inclusive communities throughout the year. This includes supporting policies that protect LGBTQIA+ rights, creating inclusive workplaces and schools, and nurturing environments where everyone can live authentically without fear of discrimination.
True allyship means standing with the LGBTQIA+ community not just during moments of celebration, but also during times of struggle. It means showing up consistently, learning continuously, and using your voice and resources to create positive change.
Your Support Matters
Every action you take in support of the LGBTQIA+ community, no matter how small it may seem, contributes to creating a more inclusive and accepting world.
Whether you’re just beginning your journey as an ally or deepening existing support, remember that your actions matter. Every gesture of acceptance, every moment of advocacy, and every effort to create inclusive spaces contributes to a world where LGBTQIA+ individuals can thrive.
Ready to Learn More?
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health challenges, know that support is available. At Element Q Healing Center, we believe that inclusive and identity-based healthcare is a right, not a privilege. We provide specialized mental health treatment designed specifically for the LGBTQIA+ community, with trauma-informed care that celebrates your identity as an essential part of your healing journey. Learn more about what we treat or contact us today to begin your path to wellness.
“Inclusive and identity-based healthcare is a right, not a privilege.”
In crisis? The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support at 1-866-488-7386 or through their chat and text services at thetrevorproject.org/get-help/.
References
- Halkitis P. N. (2019). The Stonewall Riots, the AIDS Epidemic, and the Public’s Health. American journal of public health, 109(6), 851–852. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305079
- Carter BM, Johnson R, McDaniel VP, Rodgers SG, Downing C, Barrier KM. The Progression of Inclusive Language that Enhances Belonging. Creative Nursing. 2024;30(4):308-319. doi:10.1177/10784535241296824
- The Trevor Project. (2023). 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are poppers legal?
Poppers exist in a legal gray area in the United States. While they’re not illegal to purchase, they are illegal for human consumption and are not regulated by the FDA. They’re typically sold as household products like “room deodorizers” or “leather cleaners” to circumvent regulations, but everyone understands their actual intended use.
2. Can you overdose on poppers?
Yes, it’s possible to overdose on poppers, though fatal overdoses are rare. Overdose symptoms can include severe drops in blood pressure leading to fainting, difficulty breathing, irregular heart rhythms, and loss of consciousness. The risk increases significantly when poppers are combined with other substances, especially erectile dysfunction medications.
3. Are poppers addictive?
Poppers are not considered physically addictive in the traditional sense, as they don’t cause the brain to release high levels of dopamine associated with dependency. However, psychological dependency can develop, particularly when poppers become a regular part of social or sexual routines. Some people may find it difficult to enjoy these experiences without them.
4. Why are poppers so popular in the LGBTQIA+ community?
Poppers became popular in LGBTQIA+ culture during the 1970s for several reasons: their muscle-relaxing properties can facilitate anal intercourse, they create euphoric effects that enhance social and sexual experiences, and they became embedded in gay club and party culture. Research shows LGBTQIA+ individuals are more than twice as likely to use poppers compared to the general population.
4. What should I do if I experience side effects from poppers?
If you experience mild side effects like headaches or dizziness, stop using immediately and get fresh air. For severe symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, or if you’ve combined poppers with erectile dysfunction medications, seek emergency medical attention immediately by calling 911. Chemical burns from skin contact should also receive prompt medical care.
