AUTHOR: JACKIE HO-SHING

 

10 Fun Facts about Pride

  1. LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbians, Gays, Bi-sexuals, Transgender, queer, intersex and asexual
  2. Pride month celebrates the life of the LGBTQIA+ community across the United States and parts of the world.
  3. Pride month was inspired by the riots led by Trans women of color at the Stonewall Inn on June 28th
  4. The first “Mother of Pride” was a bisexual woman, Brenda Howard who put together the first Pride March.
  5. In the Native American culture LGBTQA+ folks are recognized as those who are two-spirited.
  6. The first rainbow flag made its debut at the San Francisco Pride Parade in 1978. Designed by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker, the original flag was hand-dyed and consisted of eight symbolic colors: Hot Pink (sexuality), Red (life), Orange (healing), Yellow (sunlight), Green (nature), Turquoise (magic/art), Blue (serenity/harmony) and violet (spirit).
  7. In December 15, 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders in the DSM-II Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
  8. In 2015 the Supreme Court legalized marriage equality nationwide.
  9. 7% of the population is born with intersex traits – this estimate is similar to the number of red haired people.
  10. The largest celebration of Pride south of San Antonio is celebrated every year at Pride in the Park. This year’s celebration will be this Saturday June 24th3:00 pm – 10:00 pm in the McAllen Convention Center.

How to take Pride in your Health

There are various ways you can take Pride in your health this June, but here are some simple steps on how to be healthy and happy this month.

  1. Set up an appointment for your annual check-up! Here at Access Esperanza Clinics we see everyone and depending on your income you can have your check-up for free!
  2. Get tested regularly for STIs. It is also important to remember to get tested 1 month after unprotected sex.
  3. Get moving. Studies have shown working out at least 20 mins 3 times a week can help with your overall mental and physical health.
  4. Keep hydrated! The summer heat can be brutal and being dehydrated can be prevented by drinking your 8 cups of water a day.
  5. If you are feeling stressed or depressed reach out to a family member or friend for help. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention lifeline for further help at 1-800-273-8255.
  6. Silence your phone at night, this helps with getting the best sleep possible without being distracted by your phone.
  7. Add two more veggies or fruits to your dinner and lunch.
  8. Drink alcohol moderately. Excessive alcohol usage can lead to cardiovascular disease and liver damage.
  9. Boost your brain power with some dark chocolate!
  10. Tell yourself one positive thing you like about yourself every day.