June marks Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community, which is currently celebrated every year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.

It is also a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and be proud of living openly and authentically. 

To celebrate Pride Month, we shone the spotlight on a few ambassadors from our OGL community to elaborate on what Pride Month means to them. 

• Monique and Ellie, an engaged couple currently traveling the world. 
• Pia Manipol, a fashion content creator who recently discovered her sexuality and is celebrating her first Pride Month.
• Sara Mullins, a proudly engaged teacher who shares a lot about her experiences as a femme queer woman on Instagram.

(Please note: These interviews have been lightly edited for length and clarity.)

1. Could you please share your story with us?

Monique and Ellie: We met at London Pride in 2018 and instantly connected. Ellie saw Monique from across the room in an old, grotty pub, while Monique and her friends were drunkly throwing plants out the window at people, and Ellie was drawn to go over. Since that day we were pretty inseparable. We are now engaged and living our best lives traveling the world together!

2. How are you planning to celebrate Pride this year?

Pia Manipol: I plan to celebrate pride month by being a continuous ally and friend to others coming out. I plan to attend pride parades, read queer authors, become an advocate, and educate myself.

3. What does Pride mean to you?

Sara Mullins： Pride is all about accepting the freedom to live as your authentic self. Pride is about supporting each other and taking the chance to acknowledge all of the things that we have done, both big and small, that have brought us to where we are now.

 As most of us are aware, Pride started as a protest and, while our pride celebrations have evolved and become more celebratory in nature now, we must still acknowledge the movement and those who paved the way to make it possible.

4. What do you think people can do to raise awareness about important issues that impact the global LGBTQIA+ community?

Monique and Ellie: The greatest way we can stand together is to use our individual voices. Of course it’s important for big platforms and organizations to spread our message on a larger scale, but most of the effective groundwork is done in our own living rooms, schools or workplaces. 

5. Any words you would like to share with society?

Pia Manipol: Show love this month. Whether it be to individuals who are out and proud or those who are closeted for safety concerns.

Sara Mullins： Be who you are, take chances, and show empathy to others.

As Pride Month this year draws to a close, it’s important to bear in mind that there are still people struggling for equality, and that we are all in this together. In other words, let’s create a space of acceptance and appreciation and extend our love to other people. Happy PRIDE!

Appreciate All The Participants:
@wildforwanderlust
@piaerikaa
@simplysara