WHY PRIDE MATTERS 🖤🏳️‍🌈

Added: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]As a queer person living in Norway, I wanted to talk about a topic that has been a huge debate recently.

[00:00:09]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> As Pride Month approached, a fundraiser was created with the goal of stopping Pride celebrations within school and kindergartens.

[00:00:50]The Christian Resource Center, or Kristen Ressurssenter, is behind the campaign to stop all forms of Pride celebrations in schools. Among other things, they created a campaign which, at the time I'm creating this video, has raised over 800,000 Kroner and is currently aiming for 1 million. According to the fundraiser, the money is used for legal assistance for parents and children who want to avoid what they describe as forceful celebrations of Pride, Pride flags, and display and pressure surrounding Pride celebrations in school. Because of this fundraiser, a lot of online debate has been happening around whether or not schools should celebrate Pride. And honestly, I find it really saddening to see so many people speaking out against Pride, and especially at a time when queer youth face a lot of discrimination and when mental health struggles remain high.

[00:01:55]And when trans people in many parts of the world are seeing a growing political and social pressure against their rights, >> [clears throat] >> But if people are so afraid of pride in schools, I think it's important to ask, what does pride in school actually mean?

[00:03:30]For some people, it's controversial, but for queer youth, it is a necessity.

[00:03:37]This debate is not about politics being forced into classroom. It's about creating a sense of belonging because pride in schools is not simply about flags or celebrations.

[00:03:51]It's about making sure children and teenagers know that they are safe, respected, and that they can be themselves. Many LGBTQ people grow up without the language of who they are, without support, and sometimes surrounded by silence, bullying, and the feeling that something is wrong with them somehow.

[00:04:14]And when you grow up believing that you have to hide a part of yourself to be accepted, that leaves a mark. It creates adults, teenagers, and even children who carry the shame of who they are.

[00:04:29]People growing up believing that they are wrong, that they should hide, and that they should be ashamed of themselves. And that is exactly why visibility matters.

[00:04:40]Pride is not about pressuring anyone.

[00:04:43]It's about making sure that people know that they are not alone. It's about making sure that children learn that queer people exist, and they deserve the same dignity and respect as everyone else. It helps create safer and more inclusive environments.

[00:05:02]One criticism I hear way too often is pride being pushed in people's faces, but visibility is not the same as coercion.

[00:05:12]Acknowledging that queer people exist is not indoctrination.

[00:05:17]Teaching respect is not a recruitment, and schools al- already teach values every single day. We get taught about bullying, and we get taught about racism. We teach empathy and respect for people who are different from us, and pride inclusion belongs in that same conversation.

[00:05:39]Now, this doesn't mean that every discussion about schools and pride should be beyond debate. People can disagree about methods, activities, and how these topics are introduced.

[00:05:52]That conversation is allowed. But, for many queer people, removing support and visibility does not feel like neutrality. It feels like exclusion. Cuz the reality is that queer youth still face discrimination and still feel rejection. They still hide who they are to feel safe, and some still grow up feeling completely alone. And so, when schools acknowledge LGBTQ identities in a positive and respectful way, the message becomes clear.

[00:06:27]You are not alone. You deserve safety, >> [music] >> you deserve dignity, and you deserve to be yourself.

[00:06:35]>> [snorts] >> And because at its core, this debate is about what kind of society we want to build. One where queer youth feel invisible and uncertain, or one where they belong. And that is why pride in school matters.

[00:06:52]Because of this initial stopped pride fundraiser, there was a counter fundraiser for pride. And within just one day, the fundraiser raised more money than the original campaign and has now reached over 1 million kronor. And to me, that says something important.

[00:07:13]Pride matters, visibility matters, and creating fear and hostility towards queer people is not the answer.

[00:07:20]Because queer people are not a threat.

[00:07:23]We are simply people asking to live openly, safely, and without shame.

[00:07:30]And that is exactly why visibility matters now more than ever. Because when fundraisers are created to challenge our visibility, when policies target queer people, and when voices grow louder against our existence, the answer cannot be silence. The answer cannot be hiding and it cannot be backing down because when marginalized people are pushed into silence, discrimination does not disappear, it grows. So no, pride is not about forcing anything onto anyone. It's about refusing to disappear.

[00:08:07]It's about making sure queer children and teenagers grow up knowing that they are not alone. No broken or not something to be ashamed of because we have spent way too long being told to stay quiet, to stay invisible and to make ourselves smaller so other people feel more comfortable. And I don't think anyone should have to hide who they are just to be accepted. Pride matters, visibility matters and we deserve to exist openly, safely and without fear.

[00:08:41]And before I end this video, I also want to mention that I've added both Norwegian LGBTQ resources and The Trevor Project's link in the description below for anyone who may need support or want to learn more or simply check out information for themselves.

[00:08:59]I've also included the Yes to Pride fundraiser link for anyone who wants to read more about it and [music] with that being said, happy Pride month everyone and to every queer youth watching this, whether you are out, closeted, questioning or still figuring yourself out, you are not alone.

[00:09:21]You are not something to be ashamed of and you deserve to exist openly, freely and safely and authentically the way you are without shame. Pride has never only been about celebration. It has always been about visibility, community, and refusing to disappear in a world that has often told us to stay silent. So, celebrate if you can, take up as much space you feel safe to do, and remember that your identity is not something that needs permission to exist.

[00:09:54]And happy Pride Month. Take care of yourselves and each other, and I'll see you another time.