Happy Pride!

Happy Pride Month from meee - a totally rad bisexual lady! 🏳️‍🌈
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It's June 1st - Pride Month - a time when we affirm, amplify and celebrate lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and queer folks; our non-binary and gender non-conforming friends, folks who are asexual, demisexual and so many other beautiful sexual identities and genders that can be permanent or in flux, static or changing.

Pride is not just a celebration for folks who are "out" to their communities - it's a celebration of everyone, out or not. 🌈
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For me, this month is about joy, celebration, visibility and community. It's about elevating and amplifying queer and gender-diverse voices -- and then doing that all year round.

It's also about gratitude, for the LGBTQ+ folks who paved the way, and especially to the Black and brown trans women who were integral to the Stonewall Riots and the modern-day gay rights liberation movement.
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Pride is also a political act -- because we know the fight isn't over. From housing discrimination, to hate crimes, to anti-trans legislation, the struggle continues. Those Happily Ever Afters we love so much on the page must be the reality for all the people we are celebrating this month, not just in a fictional world.
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So if you're an ally, there are so many things that you can do (year round): Respect people's pronouns. Financially support queer creators and art. Stand up against homophobia or transphobia if you see it or hear it.

Call the hell out of those elected officials - from the Equality Act on down to local ordinances, laws and policies can either transform the world for LGBTQ+ folks, or make it harder to live in. Oh and vote! -- even the non-sexy elections, like city council or local judges or school boards (I say "non-sexy" but you know I'm a politics nerd so I love 'em all!). You can make a huge impact with that ballot box.
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Onward to the celebrating of all love stories - the ones we write in romance novels, the ones we vote for and fight for, the ones we demand take up space in a world trying to make us smaller. Happy Pride y'all! 🏳️‍🌈