5 Ways to Show Your Pride Without Actually Going to Pride

Youre gay. Youre happy about being gay. You just are sick of rainbow necklaces, tacky floats, and overpriced mediocre food. We offer you a handful of ways to be proud that dont require you setting foot inside another two-stepping tent. Volunteer! Hey, there are plenty of worthy nonprofits out there that could use a hand. And many of them offer great fringe benefits. For example, you could volunteer at a gay film festival, and not only will you be able to see some great movies for free, you can also cruise the cute crowds! Come Out! Theres no betteror more high-impactway of showing your pride than coming out to someone who may not know youre gay. Buy Gay! Amazon and Target are fabulous. You know it. We know it. But there are many wonderful queer-owned and -run stores, which could use a little help from the gay dollar. Go to your local gay bookstore (if you have one) and paygasp!full price for a book. Trust us, youll feel better. Write A Check! There are dozens of worthy gay and gay-related charities that could use a buck right now. The Human Rights Campaign and Lambda are working hard on election-year lobbying. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is working to ensure quality portrayals of queers in the media. There are dozens of LGBT centers and AIDS services across the country that would love even a small donation. Plus, its a tax deduction. So everyone wins. See Queer Entertainment! Whether its seeing a gay movie, going to gay theater, visiting a gallery exhibition by a gay artist, or just watching a gay TV show, supporting queer entertainment lets companies (and the people who run them) know theres a market for gay goods.