28 Queer Americans on What Pride Means to Them

This summer, Gypsy Sport embarked on a national Pride Tour to benefit homeless youth. Passing through LA, NYC, Portland and San Francisco, the queer streetwear brand met with dozens of LGBTQ+ Americans, all of which were documented by photographer and longtime collaborator Oscar Ouk. His subjects exclusively wore Gypsy Sport during their shoots, and were each prompted with the open-ended question, "What does Pride mean to you?" Keep clicking to meet all 28 and read their responses: 

Photography: Oscar Ouk
Fashion: Gypsy Sport

"Pride means loving yourself and treating others with love and respect, because love is the universal language" 

@Wifi_Wifey_
They/Them, She/Her, He/Him
Visual Artist
Los Angeles, CA

"Pride means standing up for my right to be different, to be myself, and to exist outside of the social norms." 

@Gender_is_Canceled
She/They
Artist and Indigo Child
San Francisco, CA

"Pride is the opposite of Shame" 

@TwoTomLand
He/Him
Artist and Illustrator
Los Angeles, CA

"Pride is to walk with horniness!" 

@TzefMontana
They/Them
Artist
Los Angeles, CA

"This is my first photo shoot since coming out as a trans woman, and my first time sharing my truest self with the world. That's Pride." 

@Shanonnn_nana
She/Her
Artist and Musician
San Francisco, CA

"Pride is inventing new ways to express yourself." 

@BlaqDeMarco
He/Him
Dancer and Choreographer
Los Angeles, CA

"Pride to me means a celebration of individuality and creativity." 

@QueensHeir
She/Her
Model and Rapper
Los Angeles, CA

"Pride is being bold and free."

@Krruzz
He/Him
Unpredictable
San Francisco, CA

"Pride for me is about celebrating Queer POC."

@WithLoveCee
She/Her
Mother and Activist
Portland, OR

"Pride is my community of nonconforming, queer folx and POC coming together in love and resilience, as we continue to build our cherished chosen family."

@PopcornSpice
She/Her, They/Them
Artivist and Student
San Francisco, CA

"Pride to me means embrace. Embrace means to hold. To hold means together." 

@TabbyWakes
Tabby Time
Artist and Entrepreneur
New York City, NY

"Pride means feeling myself, and no one can take that away from me."

@StylistMoca
She/Her
Model and Make-up Artist
Los Angeles, CA

"Pride is the ability to acknowledge not only your own accomplishments, but also those of people who share similar values as you."

@Imma_Asher
Beast
She/Her
New York City, NY

"Pride to me is a celebration of the LGBTQ community and a sanctuary for the new queer generation to come out and be protected."

@Doonie_Love
He/Him
Model and Performance Artist
San Francisco, CA

"Pride is loving and supporting your community."

@BebeHuxley
She/Her/They
Experimental Pop Singer
Los Angeles, CA

"Pride means that I will continue to live my queer life unapologetically."

@iFvckedUrsulaMajor
They/Them
Genderfuck Performance Artist
Portland, OR

"Pride is happiness."

@Kay.Effect
She/Her
Model and Student
Los Angeles, CA

"As a young queer person of color, I've had a hard time finding safe spaces in society. Pride is a celebration of the colorful people in my community

@BishopMalik
They/Them
Creative Clown
San Francisco, CA

"Pride is gratitude and celebration for all those people who came before us to fight for safe spaces and our equal rights."

@CocoMotionRN
They/Them/Her
Mom to the Stars
San Francisco, CA

"Pride is about celebrating your authentic self, while honoring those that came before us." 

@LatexLucifer__
They/Them
Multimedia Artist
New York City, NY

"Pride is being unapologetic about being your truest self." 

@MissQueenSateen
She and She
Sateen is a Band
New York City, NY

"Pride means seeing with enough clarity to resist assimilation and taking the initiative to build the future you believe in." 

@Gnarianna
They/Them
Anarchist & Co-Founder of Brujas
New York City, NY

"Pride is acceptance, community and self expression."

@Moreno.SF
He/Him
Fashion Designer
San Francisco, CA

"Pride is the ability to compose myself in a dignified way, while setting the parameters for my own existence." 

@TranceSexual
She/Her
Muse
New York City, NY

"Pride means not being afraid to be who you are despite what society says you should be." 

@GiaGarison
She/Her
Performstress
New York City, NY

"Pride is living together happily and peacefully, regardless of any differences we find among each other."

@SmellsLikeChung
Androgyne/All Pronouns
Fashion Blogger by Day, Vogue and Drag Artist by Night
Portland, OR