Pride: Celebrate Queer Joy 🌈
By Melissa Andrada (Mel - she/they), a Joy & Healing Keynote Speaker, Workshop Facilitator, Leadership Coach & Strategic Advisor collaborating with organizations to co-design cultures where people feel safe and joyful at work. ❤️
It’s Pride Month! So glad you’re here.
I invite you to celebrate in the ways that feel authentic and meaningful to you. I've curated a collection of personal practices for Pride as inspiration! As always, make it your own. : )
Photo by Spencer Ian Harris
1
Create a Personalized Language of Pride
Spend time journaling on these questions:
What does Pride authentically and specifically mean to you?
How do you want to celebrate this year?
Some people call Pride Month queer Christmas. Like any holiday, it can evoke a range of emotions and experiences.
Celebration does not necessarily have to mean attending a big parade, waving a rainbow flag or drinking with other queer people. It could be going on a solo retreat in the woods, attending a queer yoga class, going to a drag brunch show, volunteering for an LGBTQ2IA+ organization, attending a protest, watching a movie or simply being with friends and chosen family.
You do you. ❤️
I’ll be celebrating this year by teaching two yoga classes focused on queer joy and celebration at Arise in Oakland. Come practice with me. 😊
Queer Yoga Collective at Arise in Oakland
Photo by Hannah Franco
2
Music is medicine. Create a Playlist of Queer Joy!
Create a playlist of your favorite queer artists. You can take inspiration from mine! You can play this soundtrack of pride before an anxiety-inducing presentation, introducing yourself to a new group of people, going on a first date or if you’re simply feeling the queer imposter syndrome.
Don’t be afraid to sing along or lip sync; it calms the vagus nerve. Make every day a pride celebration. You’ve got this!
Check out the work of queer sound healer and musician Phoenix Song to help you free your voice and life. ❤️
Queer Yoga Collective at Arise in Oakland
Photo by Hannah Franco
3
You’re invited to dance!
Maybe you think you can’t dance. If you can move, you can dance! Reclaiming dance has been one of most powerful somatic expressions of pride. It is a potent practice of releasing queer shame, rage, fear and emotions that may be stuck in the body, helping you drop more deeply into queer joy and peace.
Check out the livestreams of the body-positive Hipline based in Oakland, a space that has been a source of deep personal healing, alongside the work of Harmony, Your Gay Dance Teacher.
4
Spiritual presence is executive presence. Create an altar for your inner queer child.
The Altar is one of the core methodologies in the Masters in Clinical Psychology and Expressive Arts Therapy Program (currently in year 2!) at the California Institute of integral Studies, used as a way to honor both inner wounds and powers. The altar is a metaphor, the altar is a model for individual and societal transformation.
You can create an altar in your own windowsill, on a table or even your desk at work if you feel comfortable.
Even if you are not religious, I encourage you to try this practice. According to research by Alicia Lieberman, Ph.D., one of the major ways people, especially children, “work around” the places in their brain impacted by trauma are animals, alongside spirituality, nature and creativity.
The altar has been a potent practice for connecting to the most wise and loving expression of my queer self, moving beyond the systemic trauma of sexual oppression.
Pride Workshop at Groundfloor in Oakland with the Optimist Collective
Photo by Gillian Stargensky
5
It’s okay if you don’t feel pride.
We’re still here for you.
No matter where you are in your ‘coming out’ journey, or what I call Return to Love, we’ve got you. It’s taken me years, and still a work in progress. It’s okay if you don’t feel ready to be ‘out.’ Take all the time you need.
You’re not alone. There is no queer timeline or deadline. You are enough.
Photo by Ruudu Rahumaru
Closing with Intentional Queer Gratitude
What about your queer journey are you grateful for?
Get in touch if you’d like to bring more pride and authentic leadership into your work and life. We’d love to support you.
Melissa Andrada (Mel - she/they), a Joy & Healing Keynote Speaker, Workshop Facilitator, Leadership Coach & Strategic Advisor collaborating with organizations to co-design cultures where people feel safe and joyful at work. ❤️