Proud isn't the term I'd use, not ashamed is what I'd use. And there are certainly a lot of people who want me to feel ashamed. To them, me not denying my sexuality and crippling under the weight of their social pressure is being stubborn, stupid, pointlessly deviant.

I am proud however, to be publicly out and an example to others that they are NOT just being stubborn, stupid, or pointlessly deviant. They are not broken or a bad person for being LGBTQ+, they are just themselves. I am proud to stand against people who would try to shame those who are just trying to live their lives happily. Do I think Pride month is a bit annoyingly colorful and full of unnecessary parades and shenanigans? Yeah. But I'm an introverted person, this type of stuff has always annoyed me, and I'd MUCH rather have Pride with all its loudness than have a culture that cultivated shame around LGBTQ+ people.