![2017 gay pride nyc 2017 gay pride nyc](https://previews.123rf.com/images/andreiorlov/andreiorlov1706/andreiorlov170600252/81750967-new-york-city-usa-june-25-2017-lgbtq-participants-of-the-nyc-pride-march-gay-pride-events-occur-thro.jpg)
![2017 gay pride nyc 2017 gay pride nyc](https://images.thestar.com/5sI2c2h-BbR1rRslVjwAYFop8YA=/1200x796/smart/filters:cb(2700061000)/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/news/gta/2017/05/22/toronto-police-invited-to-march-in-new-york-city-pride-parade/pride-parade-mark-saunders2.jpg)
They’re the younger members of our chosen family that we must protect and care for.Īfter taking a series of enthusiastic selfies and snap-chats and exchanging hugs with the teens, I was quickly handed a glass of cold champagne by my best friend, Owen. I was reminded of how much we as an LGBTQ culture need to remember that the work we put out, is a lifeline for our young people. That no matter what’s going on in your world this very second, you are part of a greater gay family – and just knowing that will help to fill the gaping voids you inevitably feel when you’re not accepted by your parents or the masses at your school.Ī doe-eyed girl about seventeen-years-old whispered into my ear “I feel so much less alone when I read your articles. I was desperate for them to know that being LGBTQ+ provides you with a built-in family. The audience at Samsung 837 Photo by Francesca Beltran Because they’re all under our collective big-queer-sibling wing now. I felt this animalistic, maternal urge to let these young kittens know that even if their blood families sometimes made them feel like they weren’t their children, but rather space aliens visiting from Planet Queer Kid – that’s okay. My baby cousins.Ī feeling of great responsibility washed over me and my (borrowed) Alice and Olivia gown which was handpicked for the occasion. These bright young things, sitting in the front row, with their cool, crazy teen hair and their pierced little septums, were somehow my children. I felt like every single person in that room was somehow a part of my blood family. They asked for our help and guidance.Īs I listened to each one of them, I became so overwhelmed by this raw emotion I couldn’t quite put my finger on. They courageously expressed their fears of being an LGBTQ adult. They boldly shared their own stories of coming out with us. They eagerly drank in every word our lips released during the panel. Zara speaking with Connor and Chris Photo by Francesca Beltran There was that palpable ~feeling~ of magical teenage energy lighting up the room. Some of the teens were queer, some of them were hyper-dedicated LGBTQ+ allies however, wherever they landed on the great spectrum of sexuality, was entirely irrelevant.
![2017 gay pride nyc 2017 gay pride nyc](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/92adc7fb79ac5c530115f81e215a8090614bce4b/c=0-164-3500-2141/local/-/media/2017/06/25/USATODAY/USATODAY/636340034168486357-AFP-AFP-PY2I8.jpg)
I was high as a kite off all the hormones and the passion blasting through the room. The performance space at 837 was teeming with teenagers. I kicked off NYC Pride 2017 at Samsung 837 – a mind-blowing experiential space in the Meatpacking District – by moderating a heartfelt panel about digital media and LGBTQ+ youth empowerment with Connor Franta, New York Times best-selling author and YouTube sensation with almost 6 million subscribers and Chris Tuttle, the fierce and articulate director of communications at GLSEN who I’ve decided I’m going force into being my new best friend.