Written by Amanda Neystrong
As a counsellor, Pride Month holds deep meaning. Not just for celebrating the resilience and joy of the 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and other marginalized gender and sexual identities) community, but for holding space with those navigating their own identities or supporting someone they love through theirs.
Pride Month is more than parades and flags; it’s a time to honor history, acknowledge ongoing challenges, and uplift queer voices. Pride Month roots began in the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969, in New York City, when 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals resisted police violence and discrimination during a raid at the Stonewall Inn. This act of resistance sparked a global movement for queer rights and visibility. Over time, Pride evolved from a protest into a celebration of identity, resilience, and community, while still honouring the ongoing fight for equity, safety, and inclusion.
As we reflect on history, there are still ongoing challenges. It’s also a powerful reminder that everyone deserves support, compassion, and education rooted in dignity. I remember a professor once offering a different way to think about “coming out.” They called it letting in. That shift in language stuck with me. It acknowledges that sharing one’s identity isn’t a one-time declaration, but a gradual and intentional act of trust. We let others in as we feel safe, seen, and supported. For some, that happens easily. For others, especially in environments where their identity is met with confusion, societal or cultural pressures and fear, it takes time or may not happen for safety reasons. Holding space for that process, without pressure or expectation, is a key part of how I show up for clients and their families.
In my role, I often sit with clients who need a space to feel seen and supported. I also work with parents, caregivers, and siblings who are trying to understand and support someone they love. Supporting someone else’s identity requires openness, humility, and a willingness to unlearn. For caregivers, it’s okay not to have all the answers. What matters most is your presence and your effort to grow in understanding. If you're a parent or caregiver seeking to support your 2SLGBTQIA+ child with love and confidence, there are resources for you, too.
Identity can be complex. For some, it also intersects with race, culture, religion, neurodivergence, or disability. These overlapping identities can impact how safe someone feels being visible and how they experience support or harm. Pride can create space for all and calls us not only to celebrate, but to advocate. For queer individuals, Pride Month can be a lifeline. A reminder that they are not alone, that joy is possible, and that their identities are valid and worth celebrating.
This June and all year, I show up by creating space. Space for hard conversations, for celebration, for healing, and for visibility. Whether you’re walking through your own identity or walking beside someone you love, Pride is for you, too. Let it be a time of courage, connection, and compassion.
Happy Pride. 🌈
You belong.
Amanda is completing her internship with Lighthouse Therapy and offers sessions on Mondays and Saturdays, you can read her biography here
Supports Available (Canada & BC)
Kamloops Pride: kamloopspride.com
Safe Spaces in Kamloops: https://interiorcommunityservices.bc.ca/programs/safe-spaces/
Trans Lifeline: Toll-Free 1 (877) 330-6366; https://translifeline.org/
PFLAG Canada (National): pflagcanada.ca
Trans Care BC: https://www.transcarebc.ca/
Gender Creative Kids Canada: gendercreativekids.ca