I came out to my only friend in middle school at 12 years old.

 

But my journey with becoming proud of my sexuality has not come as easily. I struggled with a lot of internalized homophobia for most of high school even though I appeared outwardly confident, and only started working through that around 2019. Since then, I have felt happier with myself than in my entire previous 18 years of life.

 

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Throughout the years, when people have asked me what I want to do with an illustration degree, my response has always been the same:

"As long as I'm helping people and making an impact, I'll be happy." 

 

And that's where Love With Pride comes in. 

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My goal with this brand is simple: Clothing is a huge factor in my own confidence, and I know a lot of people feel similarly. I want to give others the confidence to feel proud of who they are, the same confidence and self love that I've been able to find in my early adulthood. I want to be a comforting voice to queer children who may not have that support from their family or friends. I want to make people laugh, to be able to provide that sense of joy. I want to inspire people to love proudly and live proudly.

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Love With Pride is a queer brand at its core, yes, but it's also so much more than that. It's a message to love yourself as you would your best friend. To reconnect with nature, because it is incredibly healing. To learn to accept that not everything is in our control, and what is meant for us will come. To learn that it is okay to let go of that need for perfection.

 

Because we are all so beautifully flawed and deserve to be loved.

We deserve for every part of us to be loved.

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