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55 Pride Month Quotes That Inspire, Encourage and Uplift

You’ve read the books. You’re shopping queer-owned brands. You’re saying no to rainbow washing and you’re ready to march at the Pride Parade. Now, here are 55 Pride Month quotes from activists, actors, authors and other luminaries who said it best. Use them as a fitting Instagram caption or simply read on and be inspired by the likes of James Baldwin, Rachel Maddow, Lady Gaga and Harvey Milk.

8 Ways to Support the LGBTQIA+ Community During Pride Month and Beyond


pride month quotes: 1. “Love is never wrong.”— Melissa Etheridge

1. “Love is never wrong.” — Melissa Etheridge

pride month quotes: “What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it's curved like a road through mountains.” — Tennessee Williams

2. “What is straight? A line can be straight, or a street, but the human heart, oh, no, it’s curved like a road through mountains.” — Tennessee Williams

pride month quotes: “There are worst things in life than kissing boys.” — Benjamin Alire Sáenz

3. “There are worst things in life than kissing boys.” — Benjamin Alire Sáenz

pride month quotes: “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” — Harvey Fierstein

4. “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” — Harvey Fierstein

pride month quotes: “Our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizen of this country.” — Zachary Quinto

5. “Our society needs to recognize the unstoppable momentum toward unequivocal civil equality for every gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizen of this country.” — Zachary Quinto

pride month quotes: “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

6. “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” — Oscar Wilde

pride month quotes: “I’m living by example by continuing on with my career and having a full, rich life, and I am incidentally gay.” — Portia de Rossi

7. “I’m living by example by continuing on with my career and having a full, rich life, and I am incidentally gay.” — Portia de Rossi

pride month quotes: “Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.” — Barbara Gittings

8. “Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.” — Barbara Gittings

pride month quotes: “When you put love out in the world it travels, and it can touch people and reach people in ways that we never even expected.” — Laverne Cox

9. “When you put love out in the world it travels, and it can touch people and reach people in ways that we never even expected.” — Laverne Cox

pride month quotes: “Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?” — James Baldwin

10. “Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?” — James Baldwin

pride month quotes: “Gender and sexuality are so fluid. It’s OK to change your mind a million times and figure out what works for you. It’s OK to take your time.” — Amandla Stenberg

11. “Gender and sexuality are so fluid. It’s OK to change your mind a million times and figure out what works for you. It’s OK to take your time.” — Amandla Stenberg

pride month quotes: “This community has fought and continues to fight a war of acceptance, a war of tolerance and the most relentless bravery. You are the definition of courage, do you know that?” — Lady Gaga

12. “This community has fought and continues to fight a war of acceptance, a war of tolerance and the most relentless bravery. You are the definition of courage, do you know that?” — Lady Gaga

pride month quotes: “All of us who are openly gay are living and writing the history of our movement. We are no more—and no less—heroic than the suffragists and abolitionists of the 19th century; and the labor organizers, Freedom Riders, Stonewall demonstrators, and environmentalists of the 20th century. We are ordinary people, living our lives, and trying as civil rights activist Dorothy Cotton said, to ‘fix what ain’t right’ in our society.” — Tammy Baldwin

13. “All of us who are openly gay are living and writing the history of our movement. We are no more—and no less—heroic than the suffragists and abolitionists of the 19th century; and the labor organizers, Freedom Riders, Stonewall demonstrators, and environmentalists of the 20th century. We are ordinary people, living our lives, and trying as civil rights activist Dorothy Cotton said, to ‘fix what ain’t right’ in our society.” — Tammy Baldwin

pride month quotes: “When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.” — Barack Obama

14. “When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free.” — Barack Obama

pride month quotes: Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges.” — Bob Paris

15. “Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor. Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges.” — Bob Paris

pride month quotes: “But I’m not a saint yet. I’m an alcoholic. I’m a drug addict. I’m homosexual. I’m a genius. Of course, I could be all four of these dubious things and still be a saint.” — Truman Capote

16. “But I’m not a saint yet. I’m an alcoholic. I’m a drug addict. I’m homosexual. I’m a genius. Of course, I could be all four of these dubious things and still be a saint.” — Truman Capote

pride month quotes: “We deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame and without compromise.” — Elliot Page

17. “We deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame and without compromise.” — Elliot Page

pride month quotes: “The next time someone asks you why LGBT Pride marches exist or why Gay Pride Month is June tell them, ‘A bisexual woman named Brenda Howard thought it should be.’” — Brenda Howard

18. “The next time someone asks you why LGBT Pride marches exist or why Gay Pride Month is June tell them, ‘A bisexual woman named Brenda Howard thought it should be.’” — Brenda Howard

pride month quotes: “My silence had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.” — Audre Lorde

19. “My silence had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.” — Audre Lorde

pride month quotes: “I hate the word homophobia. It’s not a phobia. You’re not scared. You’re an a**hole.” — Morgan Freeman

20. “I hate the word homophobia. It’s not a phobia. You’re not scared. You’re an a**hole.” — Morgan Freeman

pride month quotes: “And if you help elect... more gay people, that gives a green light to all who feel disenfranchised, a green light to move forward. It means hope to a nation that has given up, because if a gay person makes it, the doors are open to everyone.” — Harvey Milk

21. “And if you help elect...more gay people, that gives a green light to all who feel disenfranchised, a green light to move forward. It means hope to a nation that has given up, because if a gay person makes it, the doors are open to everyone.” — Harvey Milk

pride month quotes: “It is absolutely imperative that every human being’s freedom and human rights are respected, all over the world.”— Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

22. “It is absolutely imperative that every human being’s freedom and human rights are respected, all over the world.”— Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir

pride month quotes: “The only queer people are those who don’t love anybody.” — Rita Mae Brown

23. “The only queer people are those who don’t love anybody.” — Rita Mae Brown

pride month quotes: “What I preach is: people fall in love with people, not gender, not looks, not whatever. What I’m in love with exists on almost a spiritual level.” — Miley Cyrus

24. “What I preach is: people fall in love with people, not gender, not looks, not whatever. What I’m in love with exists on almost a spiritual level.” — Miley Cyrus

pride month quotes: “The Lord is my Shepherd and He knows I’m gay.” — Troy Perry

25. “The Lord is my Shepherd and He knows I’m gay.” — Troy Perry

pride month quotes: “The single best thing about coming out of the closet is that nobody can insult you by telling you what you’ve just told them.” — Rachel Maddow

26. “The single best thing about coming out of the closet is that nobody can insult you by telling you what you’ve just told them.” — Rachel Maddow

pride month quotes: “If a transvestite doesn’t say ‘I’m gay and I’m proud and I’m a transvestite,’ then nobody else is going to hop up there and say ‘I’m gay and I’m proud and I’m a transvestite’ for them.” — Marsha P. Johnson

27. “If a transvestite doesn’t say ‘I’m gay and I’m proud and I’m a transvestite,’ then nobody else is going to hop up there and say ‘I’m gay and I’m proud and I’m a transvestite’ for them.” — Marsha P. Johnson

pride month quotes: “Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.” — Lin-Manuel Miranda

28. “Love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.” — Lin-Manuel Miranda

pride month quotes: “I’ve been embraced by a new community. That’s what happens when you’re finally honest about who you are; you find others like you.” — Chaz Bono

29. “I’ve been embraced by a new community. That’s what happens when you’re finally honest about who you are; you find others like you.” — Chaz Bono

pride month quotes: “We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.” — George Takei

30. “We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity.” — George Takei

pride month quotes: “You don’t have to be gay to be a supporter—you just have to be a human.” — Daniel Radcliffe

31. “You don’t have to be gay to be a supporter—you just have to be a human.” — Daniel Radcliffe

pride month quotes: “There will always be enemies. Time to stop being your own.” — Larry Kramer

32. “There will always be enemies. Time to stop being your own.” — Larry Kramer

pride month quotes: “There’s nothing wrong with you. There’s a lot wrong with the world you live in.” — Chris Colfer

33. “There’s nothing wrong with you. There’s a lot wrong with the world you live in.” — Chris Colfer

pride month quotes: “Your judgments about another person say more about your own character than the character of the person you’re pointing a finger at.” — Alaric Hutchinson

34. “Your judgments about another person say more about your own character than the character of the person you’re pointing a finger at.” — Alaric Hutchinson

pride month quotes: “Being born gay, Black and female is not a revolutionary act. Being proud to be a gay, Black female is.” — Lena Waithe

35. “Being born gay, Black and female is not a revolutionary act. Being proud to be a gay, Black female is.” — Lena Waithe

pride month quotes: “To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow—this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

36. “To be fully seen by somebody, then, and be loved anyhow—this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

pride month quotes: “You look ridiculous if you dance. You look ridiculous if you don’t dance. So you might as well dance.” — Gertrude Stein

37. “You look ridiculous if you dance. You look ridiculous if you don’t dance. So you might as well dance.” — Gertrude Stein

pride month quotes: “Hope will never be silent.” — Harvey Milk

38. “Hope will never be silent.” — Harvey Milk

pride month quotes: “Personally, coming out was one of the most important things I’ve ever done, lifting from my shoulders the millstone of lies that I hadn’t even realized I was carrying.” — Sir Ian McKellen

39. “Personally, coming out was one of the most important things I’ve ever done, lifting from my shoulders the millstone of lies that I hadn’t even realized I was carrying.” — Sir Ian McKellen

pride month quotes: “We are powerful because we have survived.” — Audre Lorde

40. “We are powerful because we have survived.” — Audre Lorde

pride month quotes: “Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?” — Ernest J. Gaines

41. “Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?” — Ernest J. Gaines

pride month quotes: “I think being gay is a blessing, and it’s something I am thankful for every single day.” — Anderson Cooper

42. “I think being gay is a blessing, and it’s something I am thankful for every single day.” — Anderson Cooper

pride month quotes: “Gays are not interested in making other people gay…but homophobes are interested in making others homophobic.” — Stephen Fry

43. “Gays are not interested in making other people gay…but homophobes are interested in making others homophobic.” — Stephen Fry

pride month quotes: “Being gay isn’t something you choose, but you do face choices about whether and how to discuss it.” — Pete Buttigieg

44. “Being gay isn’t something you choose, but you do face choices about whether and how to discuss it.” — Pete Buttigieg

pride month quotes: “I think the world has a place for gay superheroes, certainly.” — Stan Lee

45. “I think the world has a place for gay superheroes, certainly.” — Stan Lee

pride month quotes: “I believe that telling our stories, first to ourselves and then to one another and the world, is a revolutionary act.” — Janet Mock

46. “I believe that telling our stories, first to ourselves and then to one another and the world, is a revolutionary act.” — Janet Mock

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47. “I’m a young, bisexual woman, and I’ve spent a large part of my life trying to validate myself—to my friends, to my family, to myself—trying to prove that who I love and how I feel is not a phase.” — Halsey

pride month quotes: “No person is your friend who demands your silence or denies your right to grow.” — Alice Walker

48. “No person is your friend who demands your silence or denies your right to grow.” — Alice Walker

pride month quotes: “Love doesn’t care how much money you have. It doesn’t care who your parents are. It doesn’t care if you’re gay, straight, or transgender.” — Rumer Willis

49. “Love doesn’t care how much money you have. It doesn’t care who your parents are. It doesn’t care if you’re gay, straight, or transgender.” — Rumer Willis

pride month quotes: “We are not actually equal—humanity—if we are not allowed to freely love one another.” — Lady Gaga

50. “We are not actually equal—humanity—if we are not allowed to freely love one another.” — Lady Gaga

pride month quotes: “There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it’s now OK to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly until it’s simply the way things are.” — Tammy Baldwin

51. “There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it’s now OK to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly until it’s simply the way things are.” — Tammy Baldwin

pride month quotes: “Gay, straight, bi, whatever—it doesn’t matter. Love is love.” — Amber Liu

52. “Gay, straight, bi, whatever—it doesn’t matter. Love is love.” — Amber Liu

pride month quotes: “Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” — James Baldwin

53. “Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” — James Baldwin

pride month quotes: “It matters not who you love, where you love, why you love, when you love, or how you love. It matters only that you love.” — John Lennon

54. “It matters not who you love, where you love, why you love, when you love, or how you love. It matters only that you love.” — John Lennon

pride month quotes: “Gay rights are human rights.” — Hillary Clinton

55. “Gay rights are human rights.” — Hillary Clinton


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