Wow, What a Month! | We Are Booming with Pride

Pride is more than just parties and celebrations.

What began as a protest against discrimination, injustice, and unequal treatment has grown into a movement that has stood the test of time. At its core, Pride carries a simple but powerful message: it’s okay to be who you are. 

Many people fear coming out as gay, transgender, or queer because acceptance is not always guaranteed from family, friends, or their community. Hiding who you are in order to fit in can take a toll on both mental and physical well-being. When we create spaces that are welcoming and affirming, people are free to be themselves, express who they are, and build meaningful connections. The energy that comes from those spaces is truly something special. 

Community Care Alliance has given me the opportunity to bring that spirit of inclusion into my work and focus on issues that matter deeply to me and the communities we serve. Throughout the year, I have enjoyed creating trainings, educational opportunities, and facilitating affinity groups for both staff and community members. While my work spans many different community needs throughout the year, June gave me the chance to focus on Pride-centered activities and celebrate the importance of visibility, belonging, and community. 

First up was Woonsocket Pride! This has become one of my favorite events to attend. It has a true sense of community, and the vendors who come out are some of the friendliest people I have ever met. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with individuals in the Woonsocket area who may benefit from our services or who are interested in joining HQ, our queer community space. 

I also had the chance to do something extra special this year: walk in the Providence Illumination Night Parade, one of the largest Pride celebrations in the region! It was incredible to walk through the streets, hear the cheers from the crowd, and even catch a few excited shout-outs for the Community Care Alliance. Seeing that level of support and visibility for our organization was truly memorable. 

One of the highlights of the month was hosting a series of staff trivia games as part of my daily Pride Fact series. It was wonderful to see such strong participation both online and in person—from our email competitions to our Lunch & Learn sessions furthering education about the queer community! HQ a Queer Community Space also celebrated its 1-year anniversary! We welcomed so many new people into our space, making our group even stronger.

Looking back on this Pride Month, I am grateful for every conversation, connection, and opportunity to celebrate our community with PRIDE! Every effort was able to help people to just be, build a stronger, more welcoming community. Thank you to everyone who participated, learned, shared their stories, and celebrated alongside us. I look forward to continuing this work with you.  

With love and pride,
Felicity Dyer, Community Behavioral Health Liaison