I’m feeling melancholic about this year’s Pride Month coming to a close. While the beginning of this month presented the LGBTQ+ community with the opportunity to take action in creating social change—our community has been active in protesting the Anti-Terror Bill and for demanding health-oriented solutions from the government—it’s been difficult for many in the community to thrive while in isolation.
So when UP Babaylan launched their Pride Letters project—where you can send an open letter to a fellow queer—I was excited to get to writing, just so I can express my gratitude and hope to the members of the LGBTQ+ community who are having a tough time in the pandemic.
It seemed like a lot of people got to writing as well because UP Babaylan’s newly launched #PrideLetters site has so many letters from all walks of the LGBTQ+ life.
The month may be ending, but the message of Pride is all year long. ?️?
We’re thrilled to launch our #PrideLetters site where you can read more uplifting letters just for you: https://t.co/d8cjqJjgrx ❤️
You always have a home & a family in the LGBTQI community. #SOGIEEqualityNOW pic.twitter.com/G0eP1yOzyz
— UP Babaylan #SOGIEEqualityNow (@upbabaylan) June 30, 2020
Earlier today, the organization announced that the letters submitted previously will now be collated into one site for the whole community to read, even after Pride Month ends. The recently-launched site is divided into sections like To Those Not Accepted, To Those Who Are Questioning and Personal Letters.
Most of the letters are uplifting stories of how other queer people are managing quarantine. Some are reminders to continue loving and forgiving yourself. There’s one specific letter addressed to the parents of someone’s SO, which made me tear up (just a little bit) while reading.
The site and its collection of letters is a testament to how you can always find comfort in the LGBTQ+ community because someone will always be willing to say the words, or in the case, write the letters, that you needed to hear. Go ahead, browse through the letters and wish yourself a Happy Pride Month.
Photo by Teddy Österblom on Unsplash
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