What does the & mean as it relates to Pride?

It means people should be free to live their lives authentically and express themselves in whatever way feels true to them — without fear, hate, or dehumanization.

The rainbow & represents individuality, freedom, self-expression, and respect for one another as human beings.

At the same time, it also means we have to stop turning every conversation into a battlefield.

This subject has become incredibly loaded in today’s world, and people are exhausted from the constant fighting, labeling, outrage, and division surrounding it. Most people are not looking for war. They simply want to live their lives, feel safe, be respected, and extend that same respect to others.

The & symbol is my way of saying I am not interested in fighting over people of different sexual orientations and identities…from any side.

I believe we can celebrate individuality without attacking people who see the world differently.
I believe human decency matters.
I believe respect should go both ways.
I believe adults should be able to express themselves freely while also understanding that not every space, audience, or conversation requires agreement from everyone around them.

And underneath all of it — underneath the labels, flags, politics, opinions, and social media noise — are human beings simply trying to navigate life and belong somewhere.

That matters.

The goal is not forced agreement.
The goal is mutual respect.

Because before anything else…

we are human first.