#also my fiancee saw cute girls checking me out and I felt SO flattered

[namig42]

Y'all, I went to my first pride for the first time in years.

I finally got myself my first proper pride flags

I haven't been this excited to go anywhere in a long time. I actually wanted to do fun, elaborate makeup for the first time in years. I got to express parts of myself with full confidence that normally the people in my life question why I care so much about, if they even know about it at all. I would normally be terrified to go out like this, but instead of looks of judgement or disgust, I had people smiling and cheering for me. There was a woman who asked where I got my makeup done because she wanted her daughter to have flags on her face too. I got to smile at her and tell her I did it myself, and she said how cute it was and praised me for it. I got to see communities that I only ever get to see on this website, and it was so exciting to be reminded that these people really do exist in the world, even if I only get to see them on my phone most days. I had people in the parade who saw my bi rep and got excited when they saw me, cheering for me as much as I was cheering for them.

I don't remember if there's ever been a time in my life where so many people smiled at me just for being myself, especially when they know nothing else about me. Their happiness became my happiness throughout the day, and I felt seen in a way that made me feel safe and happy rather than scared and self-conscious. As my friend put it...

Hell yeah, dude. I'm so full of pride. I can't wait to do this again next year 🩷💜💙