it’s great to be you

As we get older, do we get smarter or wiser? We should have already learned what it means to be a decent human being? Hopefully, we had parents that taught us right from wrong. If not, at least you should have decided for yourself that you will not treat anyone else differently than you would want to be treated. We are all the same, HUMAN BEING. I have known and seen people who treat animals (cats and dogs) better than they do others. It’s not right and it should not be allowed. Just because you make more money, live in a nicer home, drive a fancier whatever, or have a better education, doesn’t give you the right to be mean. Many bullies were not bullies until they got bigger than the rest of the class. What went wrong? I don’t know. Perhaps when they were little they got bullied and decided when they grew up “someone was going to get it.” That is not right at all. Be respectful to everyone. Do not let others influence you into

doing wrong. Your mistakes will stay within you for a lifetime.

Time to be yourself. Saturday, October 9th, was the day! Everyone was ready to celebrate! Niceville’s Annual Pride Walk was here once again! I arrived at Niceville High School at 8:30 am camera in hand and ready to take photos. There were many people already visiting booths and talking to soon-to-be friends. I start snapping away on a sunny morning. Vendor Fair with food trucks included booths for local organizations/ businesses wishing to promote useful resources for LGBTQIA+ youths, adolescents, and adults. You could register to vote, meet people who are running for office, continue your education,

and even get a henna tattoo if you wanted one. I bought a couple of pride buttons : )

They made me very happy!

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At 9:00 am participants, media, and I moved to the stadium. The Chair of Niceville Pride, Logan Goodson, announced and recognized the numerous organizations, businesses, and individuals who helped fund and organize Niceville Pride. He encouraged everyone in attendance to support these businesses throughout the year. After, the President of PFLAG Niceville and Faculty Advisor to the NWFSC GSA, Dr. David Simmons, provided an inspirational speech. It was titled “We Walk Together” and it uplifted the attending participants of the event. I took a few candid photos and one big group photo. I then got to go on the 2-mile walk.

Niceville Pride kicked off with their annual march down John Sims Pkwy. Participants walked from Niceville High School to Walmart and back. Along the path of the march there were stations set up for water, snacks, and the best mom hugs.

After the completion of the march, participants of Niceville Pride and other community members continued celebrating Pride with a reception hosted by Niceville High School. The reception provided water, snacks, fun booths, purchasable retail, a safe place to express your “personal” pride via an open mic support-group meeting, and a silent auction. The open mic stories are the most inspiring. Stories of how their journeys began and the struggles from the outside and at home worlds.

Many stories were shared, about successes within themselves and how to enjoy living being yourself too.

I hope you can see the happiness and joy in the faces of all of those in attendance. I plan to be back to photograph and support the cause next year. I attended the Pride Prom in the Arts Wing of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center with Mara and Jessica. As supporting allies we had a great time dancing, eating snacks, and having fun. We felt like living pieces of art in the art gallery while making new friends. It was a blast!

The following morning I couldn’t wait to see and edit the images I captured of the Pride events. To see all of these people having a great time made me feel good inside. Plus I love having the chance to share with others who may not have been able to attend due to people who don’t approve or understand why you are the way you are. I hope they decide to research the organization to find out what others have

learned. I hope they can become an ally, be supportive to the cause, and much more.

You can join the PFLAG Niceville Support Group Meeting, every second Sunday of each month via Zoom. This meeting is for all LGBTQ people and their friends, family members, and allies. You can join from anywhere in the world! To receive the Zoom Meeting link for the support meetings, please email the group at info@pflagniceville.com

proud to share the rainbow

Being an ally is many things to me. Some of those things are listening, showing up, supporting when you can, helping others, and sharing things we all have in common as good humans. PFLAG Niceville is the local chapter that I am most familiar with and you can be part of it too. PFLAG envisions a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued, and affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation,

gender identity, and gender expression.

“share the love and accept the smiles”