Major Take-Aways:

• October marks Pride History Month and provides members of the LGBTQ+ community and our allies an opportunity to take stock in our history and to draw inspiration for our continued activism

• Historically, LGBTQ+ have faced significant threats to their mental health and may struggle with shame. Positive representations of LGBTQ+ identity can serve as a buffer against this shame

• Here, I summarize five values celebrated within the LGBTQ+ community as a means both for honoring our historic achievements and for bolstering queer people against threats to our mental health