Levi’s 2015 Pride Collection Shorts | H&M Tank (similar here) | Alex And Ani Bracelets | Ray-Ban Sunglasses | Sperry Shoes | Mack Weldon Socks + Briefs
It’s Pride Month, and for a lot of people that means a million different things. I was actually just having a conversation with a guy (on quite possibly THE weirdest date of my life, thanks Tinder) last night about Pride. In my eyes I’m proud to a gay man 365 days a year, and because of that Pride.. doesn’t hold as much value to me as it used to. I’m all for celebrating our heritage, our history, how we’ve gotten to where we are today, but I feel that that is lost during our Pride celebrations. Pride for most us means drinking way too much alcohol, wearing far too few articles of clothing, and making more questionable decisions than we care to admit.
I’m not judging or throwing side-eye at anyone with the above statements because I’ll be the first to admit I was at the front of that list not too many years ago. I was still coming to terms with my sexuality, and after moving out of my parent’s house I was waving that queer flag as hard as my limp little wrists could wave. Trust me. If I’m ever feeling generous maybe I’ll share some photos from my twink days. I’m sure they’d give everyone a good LOL.
But what I’ve realized over the years is that Pride is the only chance some people, especially in my area of the country, have to let those freak flags fly, and boy do they let them fly. Another thing I’ve realized/thought about over the last few years of attending Pride is that until we (as a society) celebrate all walks of life 365 days a year, people will still continue to hide in the closet and only be proud during the month of June. Or, that’s how I see it at least. Now I’m not trying to discount Pride, at all. I’m just looking at it through different eyes than most people. Because in my mind, until we (as the LGBT community as a whole) love ourselves for ourselves all day, every day we’re giving society an opportunity to discount us, see us as not enough, and you know what they say – give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile.
As far as I’m concerned though I’ll continue to be proud of who I am 365 days a year, and thanks to brands like Levi’s I’ll be able to do so in style while supporting a worthwhile cause. Proceeds from Levi’s 2015 Pride Collection benefit Stonewall Community Foundation, which helps New York’s diverse LGBT community. Shop the pieces from the collection at the end of this post!
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Shop The Levi’s 2015 Pride Collection
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Photos c/o Josh Johnson