@sue.oconnell.nbcboston: I’m 64. I came out in 1985, in the early years of the AIDS crisis — before marriage equality, before federal workplace protections, before rainbow logos in stores, before being out was treated as normal. Freedoms that feel ordinary now were impossible, illegal, or dangerous for most of my life: holding hands, keeping your job, keeping your kids, marrying the person you love, and saying who you are out loud. Pride matters because people fought for those rights and because rights do not defend themselves. What does Pride mean to you? #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #LGBTQRights #QueerHistory #Pride2026
Sue O’Connell
Region: US
Monday 01 June 2026 21:05:33 GMT
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nunyabizness8647 🏳️🌈 🆘 :
I’m 64 and my wife and I are celebrating our 43 anniversary next week. My how far we’ve come ❤️🏳️🌈
2026-06-03 22:03:42
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catcatcat123 :
People seem to forget how recent all this is.
2026-06-03 01:26:25
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✨️(*っ・з・)ノ M@RZ✨️ :
I was a freshman in highschool when they legalized gay marriage im only 25!!!
2026-06-03 20:24:43
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Sera☆ :
Its still risky for lots of us.
2026-06-01 23:14:28
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Sam :
Thank you, your generation laid the roadwork and made my love story possible happy pride 🏳️🌈
2026-06-03 13:03:09
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ColoradoCatMom8293 :
My mom was fired from the YMCA in the 90’s because she is gay. She sued and WON. I didn’t understand back then just how important that was. She helped me be able to be out and open now. Happy Pride month!!🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
2026-06-03 16:45:51
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ryles💫 :
thank you for paving the way for us.🤎
2026-06-06 16:01:07
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☆ hannah ☆ :
blessed to love my girl openly 🥹
2026-06-07 16:51:14
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Lori S72 :
Almost 54 here and I didn't even consider the possibility I was gay until my late 40s. Grew up in small rural towns where there was no representation of a femme like me and comphet is REAL. Looking back there were giant flashing neon signs all over the place, but that's another story.
Thank you for being strong enough, brave enough, and confident enough (though I'm sure it was scary AF) to be you. My own journey wasn't nearly the same battle bc of it.
2026-06-12 15:17:04
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Kimmi🏳️🌈💃 :
55. out since 95. we have been together for 28 years despite losing EVERYTHING.
2026-06-21 15:24:27
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Annaleise :
I was born in 98’ and our high school wouldn’t allow a GSA club until the year after I graduated. I was 17 when Gay marriage was legalized and I didn’t really come out to myself until I was around 19. I only just came out to my parents this Christmas at the age of 27, and now I’m 28 and I am amazed at how far we’ve come in my life time. I remember hiding my rainbow Pride things and being paranoid of being outed, and now this past weekend I walked hand in hand with my girlfriend at Pride. It means everything to me.
2026-06-12 15:11:50
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mJaY :
in 2003 Alabama courts ruled that a federal felon dad was better than a lesbian mom. taking custody away all on the Rot Moore memo that children should only be raised in homes with a mother and father
2026-06-03 20:09:20
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La Cabra :
well said. now if we could do more for Trans rights.
2026-06-07 22:51:14
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Cindy Valentin🇵🇹 :
As a mom of a gay daughter…thank you for this. We must keep fighting to keep LGBTQ+ right’s
2026-06-09 23:26:01
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Kat 🆘 🇺🇸 🏳️🌈 :
Thank you for reminding us of our history. We do need Pride month. 🏳️🌈
2026-06-10 01:49:19
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genericusername567 :
Thank you for paving the way. Visibility matters.
2026-06-18 23:18:23
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decayed signal 𓃔 :
thank u for paving the way ❤️
2026-07-07 16:05:31
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Kirsten :
Pride for me is paying homage to those before me who fought for my right to exist openly and authentically. And I refuse to stay silent, especially during this political climate.
2026-06-23 18:22:39
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Virginia R. Hoato :
❤️🥰👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼1961👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🥰❤️
2026-06-07 17:54:46
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Steffanee Thacker :
My wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last year. Pride for us means that I was able to advocate for her throughout that whole journey, but especially while she was in the hospital. I was never asked to leave or even questioned my relation to her.
2026-06-05 15:43:19
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jessicamaygay :
I finally came out at age 42 and I decided to chop off all my hair and start living my life the way I wanted to. I was always so worried about what others thought of me, but it feels so good to finally be out and to find myself a wonderful woman and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you for posting this video.🙌🏼🙌🏼
2026-06-05 16:49:36
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Julia :
Happy pride!
2026-06-07 20:55:02
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rac_hell_e :
we need to be honoring our queer elders
2026-06-06 01:16:19
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LezBeTru26 :
my wife and I celebrate 30 years this year. It's been a long road to a better place for us as a community. We still can't be ourselves in certain places. We live our lives pretty openly but we are always "aware." Thank you for being open and honest. Visibility counts.
2026-06-04 16:04:21
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phenixflies :
I came out in 1976 at the age of 15. I know that even though it was hard, I knew the people who came before me, worked hard so I could live more freely than they did. I have always believed it is my responsibility to live as out and proud as I can. Why? It is because it has been, and will continue to be my duty to live in such a manner to make it easier, and more accepted, for the ones who come after me. I’ve protested all my life for our rights, and I will do so till the day I die.
2026-06-11 20:03:28
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