Imagine this:

An empty stage with a blank projector staring at the wall. Then, a spotlight clicks on and Mags walks from left stage to center stage.

Mags: Heyooo, my peeps! I know it's been a while since we at Alpha to Omega have reached out, but we have something special for our teen crowd tonight!

The projector begins shining a banner on the wall.

The crowd goes wild!

Mags: Wow! I'm happy to hear y'all are excited! Today, we'll be talking about pride in teens and how teenagers can celebrate outside of Pride Month. Speaking of Pride Month, I experienced something today.

This is a true story that happened on June 30th, 2024: Pride flags waved high in the streets downtown. I am always so happy to see them every year. And then I was reminded that today was the last day of June. I turned to my brother and said, "I bet you they're all gonna be taken down right when the clock strikes 12 tonight." I really hope I'm wrong, but it really is worrisome. They act like we don't exist outside of June. That needs to change.

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Before we do anything else, I want to share my teen experience of finding myself in all of my identities.

Mags' Teen Experience

I came out as gay when I was fourteen. I had just gotten home from the hospital and being at death's door really hit me in the gut. I learned that I should live as myself and stop denying it. Now, I grew up (and still am) Catholic, so I had some big denial issues in my early teenage years, even after I came out as queer... Because my coming out story still wasn't over.

I came out as bisexual when I was sixteen and started dating a guy who was biromantic and homosexual. That was the first time I heard of romance without sex. And I loved and (most importantly) vibed with the idea of it! I came out as asexual & biromantic when I was seventeen.

Then, also when I was seventeen, I found the online world (also known as Wattpad communities on Discord) and I learned so much about the LGBTQIA+ community! That's when I realized I was DEFINITELY panromantic.

I also realized that I can be something other than a woman without being only a man. I came out as genderqueer (or autogender, something I learned existed earlier this month) when I was eighteen. To this day, I go by any/all pronouns.

Now, two years later, I look back at all these times and I thank the people who educated me so that I could understand myself better.

And I also think of how many times I've come out as one queerness or another. Makes my heart laugh happy tears every time!

Ladies, laddies, and gentlepeople, this is what Pride Month is for. Education. But, that does not mean we can't celebrate our identities outside of June. Today, I will go over some tips and tricks on how to show your pride during the "off" months. But, first! Something special! Here with us today to help us understand a few things about pride from an ally's perspective is our very own DIVYAAAA!

Divya walks onstage calmly as the audience cheers.

Divya: (waves kindly) Hey, all of you! As Mags said, I am an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and this is my message to all of you allies out there:

Divya's Ally Testimony:

As an ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, I believe it's crucial for the world to understand what this term means and the profound impact of ignoring or dismissing LGBTQIA+ identities. Such attitudes can contribute to existential crises for those affected. I strive to educate myself about the struggles and rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, recognizing the importance of validating their feelings and letting them know they are heard and valued. Not everyone fits into the binary pronouns of she/he. As an ally, I make every effort to use the correct pronouns for everyone, whether they identify as LGBTQIA+ or not. This shows respect and acceptance for who they are. As a society, we need to celebrate and embrace our differences. Our diversity is what makes us unique and enriches our collective experience. A world where everyone thinks the same would be monotonous and lack the vibrant diversity that defines us.

I actively voice support for the LGBTQIA+ community whenever I encounter opposition. Recently, I engaged in a debate with a classmate who believed LGBTQIA+ identities were a mental health issue and didn't really exist. I stood up for LGBTQIA+ rights, discussing their struggles, history, and the importance of recognizing our diverse identities. While we didn't reach a consensus, I felt proud to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. Being a good ally is an ongoing process, and each step I take reflects my active effort and commitment to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.

The crowd is silent as she ends her speech... then erupts into cheers!

Mags: Wow, Divi! That was beautiful! It moved my heart to bits and pieces and it sounds like you moved theirs too! (gestures to crowd) Nowww, I believe you also have a story to share?

Divya: Oh, yes! It's a story about a girl and her best friend, and their neverending pride!

Divya's Short Story:

Emma sat nervously at the edge of her bed, staring at the rainbow-coloured flier she had just finished designing. "Join us for a Pride Month picnic!" it read, adorned with hearts and stars.

She looked at her phone, the text message she had written to her best friend, Jake, still unsent. She had been meaning to tell him about her sexuality for weeks now, but the words always seemed to get stuck in her throat.

She took a deep breath and hit the send button.

Jake was sitting on his sofa scrolling through memes on his phone when Emma's message popped up.

He smiled, expecting another silly video or a new song recommendation. Instead, he read the text over and over, trying to process the words.

"Hey Jake, I wanted to tell you something important. I'm bisexual. I hope you can understand and support me. There's a Pride picnic my LGBTQ+ club is hosting this Saturday and I'd love for you to come with me."

He stared at the screen, a mix of emotions inside him. He didn't really know how to take this sudden revelation. They had been best friends since elementary school and shared countless secrets, but this was new territory. He felt a pang of guilt for not knowing, for not seeing the signs.

But mostly, he felt proud of Emma for sharing this part of herself with him.

Emma's heart raced as she waited for Jake's response. Minutes felt like hours until her phone buzzed.

"Hey Emma, thanks for trusting me with this. Of course I'll be there. You're amazing just the way you are. Can't wait for the picnic!"

Emma let out a breath she hadn't realised she was holding. Tears of relief welled up in her eyes. She knew this was just the beginning, but with Jake by her side, she felt ready to face anything.

The day of the picnic arrived, and Emma was nervous and excited. She had decorated the local park footpath with rainbow streamers and set up tables with snacks, drinks, and information about LGBTQ+ resources. She wore a shirt with a rainbow heart on it, feeling more herself than ever before.

Jake showed up early, sporting a shirt with the words "Love is Love'' written on it. Emma hugged him tightly, grateful for his presence. As more people arrived, Emma introduced Jake to her new friends from the LGBTQ+ club she had joined. They laughed, shared stories, and celebrated the start of Pride Month together.

Jake found himself mingling, learning things he hadn't expected. He listened to the experiences of others, gaining a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community. It opened his eyes to the importance of acceptance and friendship.

Later that evening, after the picnic had ended and they were packing up, Emma and Jake sat on a bench, watching the sunset. Emma spoke softly, "Thanks for being here today. It means a lot to me."

Jake nodded, "I'm glad I came. I learned so much. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like you couldn't tell me."

"You didn't," Emma reassured him. "It just took me a while to accept it myself. But having you here, supporting me, makes it so much easier."

Jake smiled, "Well, I'm here now. And I'll always support you, no matter what."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the sky turn shades of orange and pink. The world seemed a little brighter, a little more accepting, with the promise of new beginnings.

As they stood to leave, Emma felt a surge of confidence. She knew that this was just one step in her journey, but with friends like Jake by her side, she was ready to embrace whatever came next. Pride Month had given her the courage to be herself and she was determined to make the most of it.

And that's it! Hope you enjoyed it!

Mags: I know I sure did! Reminds me of the good old days!

Divya: Aww, glad I brought on that nostalgia hehe... Now, you have some tips and tricks on how to hold onto your pride outside of June just like Emily did, right, Mags?

Mags: Indeed I do! Thanks, Divi!

Mags' Tips and Tricks

There are many different ways to show your pride. It can be as simple as wearing a rainbow shirt or sticking a bumper sticker of your flag on your vehicle. Or it can be as convoluted as joining a rally or a club. The following are my favorite ways to celebrate your pride.

1. Deck yourself in rainbows. Whether this be on your clothing, your skin, or your possessions, it's still on yourself. Now I'm just imagining an awesome pride tattoo!

2. Keep your flag up. If you own a pride flag, don't take it down once July 1st hits. Keep it up, let the world know you support the community. Let them know that we still exist and we deserve the same rights they have.

3. Join your local club. If you live in a city, there is a good chance there's an LGBTQIA+ club near you. And if there isn't a club near you, then start one! Queer people live everywhere and we all need support. Be the support queer teens need!

4. Participate in a rally. A bunch of queer peeps and allies getting together to educate other peeps on what's what? Nothing like it. Phenomenal experience.

5. Talk about it. Don't be afraid to talk about your thoughts and feelings and crushes and desires. If you can't talk about it at home, find someone you can talk to. There are many support groups online for queer teens, including The Trevor Project.

6. Donate to LGBTQIA+ supporting charities. Not only would this help the charity, but it will also help the queer community, especially those who may not have the support they need. Any amount counts!

7. Stand up for your community. When you hear something you don't like, don't hide in the corner. Don't let them put you in a box. Stand up and fight for what you believe in. Fight for who you are!

8. Read/watch/listen to media with LGBTQIA+ representation. Not only will this fiction probably be relatable to you, but it will also increase the certain media's stats and therefore make it available to more people. Plus, there's nothing like a good book with a cute gay couple to make a person feel better.

And that's it! Please take this advice to heart and go into July feeling more pride in yourself than you ever have!

Alpha to Omega Team: Thanks for reading and have a wondering day!

Credits to:
Mags chaotic_naturx
Divya Sakshidevi712