Taking Pride – The Ledger

June has been identified as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. With all the talk about gay rights these days, you might think that this was a recent decision. In fact, the proclamation making June “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month” was signed in 1999. It was made to commemorate the riots following a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a prominent gay bar in Manhattan, in June of 1969. Following this event, members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their supporters, held marches and demonstrations across the country. In 1999, President Bill Clinton became the first president to proclaim June as “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.” Other presidents, including Barrack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden, have done the same.

Though we have come a long way in recognizing the civil rights of individuals in the LGBTQ+ community, we have a long way to go. With the exception of race, we would be hard pressed to identify another civil rights issue that produces as much passion as gay rights.

It is hard to understate the difficult reality that many in the LGBTQ+ community continue to encounter. Research suggests that they are more than twice as likely to experience depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. These statistics are not surprising when you consider the hatred and malicious intent aimed at this community. Just last week, for example, a preacher in Texas announced from his pulpit that gay people “are dangerous to society,” “are pedophiles,” and “should be put to death.”

Fortunately, there are organizations and individuals who show their acceptance and support for those in the LGBTQ+ community. Groups like PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and Lakeland Youth Alliance provide support and resources for those in the LGBTQ+ community who have questions or who are struggling with the challenges they face.

In addition, there are mental health professionals who offer “safe spaces” for youth and adults from the LGBTQ+ community. These providers also teach coping skills and strategies for navigating the challenges they encounter.

The debate over why someone is gay, lesbian, or transgender will continue. Many continue to believe that being gay is a “choice,” and that individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ community choose that lifestyle just to get attention.

However, if you ask the experts or people from the LGBTQ+ community, you will quickly learn that it was not a choice; that many, in fact, attempted to “choose to be straight,” only to experience severe depression and dysphoria as they tried to live a life that was not theirs. We have heard of many who struggled for years, sometimes decades, attempting to conform to societal expectations, only to later come out as their true selves. Others will tell you that having a choice would have given them an opportunity to avoid so many challenges they experience. But it’s not a choice; it is who they are.

As we enter the second half of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, take a moment and consider the lives and experiences of others. No one is going to “recruit” you to join the LGBTQ+ community. But we encourage you to remember that those in the LGBTQ+ community are people who have families, friends and loved ones. They only want what you want: to live a happy life, free from discrimination and hate; to be accepted for who they are, even if they are different from us in some way. Despite our differences, when we are accepted and loved, we all tend to feel more peace and to live a happier life.

Dr. Berney, a licensed psychologist with Psychological Associates of Central Florida in Lakeland, is a national speaker and the co-author of “Handbook for Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child.” Listen to Dr. Berney’s podcast, “The Mental Breakdown,” on iTunes and YouTube. You can submit questions or topics to Dr. Berney by email at drberney@pacflorida.com.