“As PRIDE month comes to an end, I’d like to remind you to be grateful. If you’re reading this, you have someone in your life who cares about you who could very easily not be here right now.

The young man pictured here was 17 when the photo was taken. Just 4 years later everyone around him began to die. He faced death every day for a very long time. PRIDE kept him going. The streets of San Francisco made him tough.

He somehow survived, not without the scars of losing over 150 friends in just 10 years. I know his pain and his PRIDE, because he is me.

Have PRIDE in yourself. Have PRIDE in your friends, and have PRIDE in this imperfect world we live in. Have PRIDE in the young people who carry the torch of freedom forward for everyone.

Happy PRIDE,  I’m so grateful to still be here with you.” – Greg, Las Vegas

What’s your Pride story? Let us know! Send an e-mail to charles@personalstoriesproject.org to share yours! #PrideMonth #PersonalStories