What Pride Symbolizes to Me & the Grounded Wellbeing Team
At Grounded Wellbeing, we value community, reclamation and believe in the transformative power of affirming and inclusive care. Our commitment is to center the experiences of queer, trans, and gender-expansive individuals, allowing them to heal within the embrace of our community. By nurturing the whole self and promoting holistic well-being, we strive to empower every person who walks through our doors to embrace their authentic selves and live their lives to the fullest.
In recognition of Pride Month, I’m sharing what Pride symbolizes to me and the entire Grounded Wellbeing team:
Pride is Remembering and Honoring History. Remembering our queer and trans ancestors and the trailblazers who paved the way for LGBTQ+ civil rights. Stonewall is seen as a key moment for civil rights for LGBTQ+ people. The 1 year anniversary of Stonewall commemorates the first official pride March, where organizers marched down Christopher Street in NYC. Since then, pride marches and celebrations have grown year over year and are celebrated all over the world. Most cities hold their celebrations in June in memory of the Stonewall riots; however, Atlanta’s celebration is in October, which aligns with LGBT History Month. Atlanta Pride began in 1970 and was celebrated in June until 2009, when it was moved to October. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Atlanta pride, consider reading this article.
Pride is Reclaiming. Any month, but especially Pride Month, offers an opportunity for queer and trans folks to gather together in community to reclaim space and power for themselves and our community at large. Reclaiming allows us to assert our autonomy and right to things previously taken from us, using our collective voice and joy to say, “We’re here, and you can’t take this from us!” Reclaiming gifts us the opportunity to be loud and visible and proud and full of queer and trans joy. Pride is a month where queer and trans folks get to be witnessed in a powerful way, a life-changing way. Reclaiming space, power, joy, and so much more is at the center of the work we do at Grounded Wellbeing.
Pride is Resistance. Enacted through celebrations and pride marches across the country, resistance is taking up space and celebrating the diversity of queer and trans experiences in the community and through solidarity. In the words of Mars Wright, a trans activist and artist, “Trans Joy is Resistance is a reminder that my joy and ability to love my trans body is actively resisting the forces put against me. My joy for life will not falter just because society is actively trying to push me out. Being Trans is a beautiful experience, and I am grateful every day to be a Trans person. I want the world to know that being Trans is not the problem, it is the way we dehumanize trans people that is the problem. Trans people have always been around, and we aren’t going anywhere.” At Grounded Wellbeing, we wholeheartedly believe that queer and trans joy is resistance. We believe in showing up authentically as ourselves and celebrating our unique differences. We recognize the privilege that comes with being visible and know that not everyone can. We choose to be visible, to take up our space, and to resist oppressive systems together in community.
In honor of Pride, we are offering several free community events in an effort to live these values and provide a brave space for our queer, trans, and gender-expansive community:
Saturday, June 15th at 3 PM: Self-Defense Class with Clarity Fitness and Gracie Jiu Jitsu Decatur
Saturday, June 22nd at 5:30 PM: Empowered Recovery Support Group
Monday, June 24th at 7 PM: Tie Dye Party!
Saturday, June 29th: Sound Healing
You can sign up for these events on our community offerings page.
To find out more ways to celebrate pride and support the LGBTQIA+ community as an ally, consider reading this blog by Folx Health. You can attend local pride events, support a queer or trans artist, or donate to a mutual aid fund.