WELCOME  to PAPC

Everyone of us has a story. A story of courage. A story of coming out. A story of a parent whose child is part of the LGBTQ+ community. A story of a dear friend who stands as an ally. A story of a young person who defends and understands the rights of others. A story of a couple who come from different backgrounds, choosing love and commitment anyway. Their stories are about courage. Their stories are about pride. Their stories quiet the noise while strengthening the power of pride.

Every one of us has a story—but it is those stories we share that move us forward. It is those stories that call us back to purpose. It is those stories that remind us:

If not us, then who?
If not now, then when?

Let’s be honest—Pride feels a little different this year.

There is still joy in it, but for many it is quieter now. The noise of hatred around us feels louder, and the ongoing struggle for dignity, safety, and recognition can make celebration feel more complicated than it once did. And yet we persist—because we have to. Because Pride was never meant to be easy. Pride was never only about a party; sometimes it is about protest.

Pride was born out of courage. It was carried forward by people who refused to disappear, even when the world told them they had to. We stand on the shoulders of pioneers like Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk, and those who stood at the Stonewall Riots, along with so many others whose bravery carved out space for others to live more freely and more fully.

We are reminded that progress is not only measured in laws or milestones, but in everyday acts of recognition and respect—in the simple but powerful gestures that say: you belong here, you are seen, you matter,  you are loved. Something as simple as raising a Pride flag is never just symbolic. It is a public commitment to dignity and respect. It is a reminder that communities are strongest when no one is pushed to the margins. It is a promise that love is not conditional, and that every person deserves to live without fear or shame.

This year, more than ever, Pride asks us to remain steady. To resist despair. To choose persistence over silence, and hope over resignation. To be honest about the challenges, but also to refuse to be defined by them. Not because everything is resolved, but because the work is not finished.

So we return to what has always guided us:

If not us, then who?
If not now, then when?

It has to be us. It has to be now.