Pride in the Park - and Why It Matters

This weekend, I get to share something special with my youngest daughter - her very first Pride event.

We’ll be heading to Pride in the Park, and I’ve got the potato chips (the side item I agreed to bring), the sunscreen, and - yes - probably a few too many tissues packed. Because this isn’t just a festival. It’s a celebration of love in all its bold, beautiful forms. A day where joy takes center stage, and the message is clear: You belong. You are loved. You are enough.

As a mom - and as an ally - I’ve always believed that love should never come with conditions. That no one should have to dim their light to fit someone else’s expectations. And that one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a world where acceptance isn’t earned - it’s automatic.

This event is more than music and food and rainbows (though I plan to soak up every bit of that too). It’s a chance to show up. To show my daughter inclusion, visibility, and the long, courageous road it took to get here. It’s about helping her understand what it means to stand beside others, even when their story isn’t hers.

We’ll walk through the park together. Take it all in. Laugh. Learn. Celebrate. And I’ll remind her, like I always do: kindness is never wasted, and love - real, fearless love - deserves to be honored.

Pride is powerful. And this mom is proud to be there, walking right beside her daughter.

So come on out to Breaks Interstate Park and help us celebrate Pride in the Park! Festivities kick off at 12pm - bring your joy, your sunscreen, and maybe a few extra chips. See you there!