This Pride Month, Billboard asked artists to write a series of love letters to their LGBTQ fans, highlighting what the community means to them as people and as artists. Below, Katie Pruitt reaffirms the community’s “hard won” pride, celebrating their collecting “bleeding heart for the underdog and zero tolerance for bigotry.”

If you’re anything like me, “Pride” in your identity was hard won. Whether that battle was internal, external, or both, you’ve made it this far and I’m so proud of you. Most of us are bonded by the isolating and traumatizing feeling of being closeted in a largely heteronormative world, and we remember having to deeply consider how our lives will change once we get up the courage to speak those irreversible words: “I’m gay.”

Because as liberating as those words are, they are also loaded with a whole new list of challenges, uncertainties and questions. And although you’d never “go back” to a time when you had to hide yourself, this newfound visibility can be so overwhelming. Your personal life is suddenly on display for your friends and family to chime in and give their two cents. 

It’s these specific challenges that make it necessary for us to seek comfort in our queer community. We intentionally seek out and create safe spaces to go when we want to feel seen and understood. Even then, we have to keep our guard up on the off chance that we become a victim of ridicule or god forbid another hate crime. 

Somewhere in your journey, I’m sure you’ve had to dig deep for the resilience necessary to keep going. Having to not only embrace your differences but use them to your advantage. You know exactly what it’s like to be “othered” and for that reason, you have a bleeding heart for the underdog and zero tolerance for bigotry. 

So, no matter how “hard won” pride in your identity has been, all of these impossible milestones have made you into the fierce, self-loving, empathic and compassionate person you are today, and THAT is something to be proud of. 

Love your friend, 
Katie Pruitt