As we welcome Pride Month, I invite each of us to reflect on the profound importance of this time — not just for the LGBTQ+ community, but for all of us who believe in the inherent dignity and worth of every human being.
A few months ago, I was on a plane flying from a work team meeting in Detroit. I placed my carry-on in the overhead bin and slid my backpack under the seat in front of me, put my earbuds in, and started watching “The Great British Baking Show”, one of my favorite binge TV shows for air travel! The woman in the seat to my left started tapping my shoulder, and I took out my earbud to chat with her. She asked me if she could take a picture of the pin on my backpack to send to her good friend back home. She then shared with me the story of her friend’s son, who was killed in an act of violence that was precipitated by the information that he was gay. She wanted to share the picture of the pin with her friend as an acknowledgement of her loss — to let her know she was thinking of her and as hope for a different future. This encounter reminded me of the importance of visibility and support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Image of the backpack with the pin that says: "YOU ARE SAFE WITH ME".
At its heart, Pride Month is a celebration of authenticity, courage, and the right to be acknowledged, safe, and respected. This is a right that belongs to all people, but it carries special significance in healthcare. Our hospitals, clinics, and care settings must be places where every patient, family member or support person, and colleague feels seen, heard, and safe, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
Nurses are leaders in acceptance and advocates for safety, inclusion, and community. Our training and our daily work teach us to see the person before us not just as a patient, but as a whole human being. We know that healing happens best in an environment where people feel safe — where their stories are honored, and their identities affirmed.
Our understanding of humanity goes deeper than surface-level differences. We studied cellular biology as the foundation for every human’s existence, without stratifications. And then layered that information with the impact that identity, culture, and experience has on a person’s health. In our work, every person deserves our compassion and our care.
My cousin recently made a social media post stating, “Yes, I am gay, no I don’t believe in nor celebrate pride months. I believe in equality, and giving a month to a community is NOT equality.” Her comments gave me pause and reminded me that while this celebration around inclusivity is important, it’s just as important that people feel safe in their environment all day, every day. And also, that we need to be careful not to assume that people with shared commonalities are all in agreement on the best ways to do so.
As we celebrate Pride Month (or we use it as a reminder that it’s bigger than one month), let’s continue to create spaces of belonging, both for those we serve and for each other.