I stepped into the McAllen Convention Center, wearing a brightly colored flag around my shoulders that was twice my size. Golden warmth bounced around the large room to the rhythm of the booming music and a hundred footsteps. There were so many people there of all ages and from all walks of life, but I didn’t feel small. The LGBTQ community here in the Rio Grande Valley is so welcoming to people all ages and orientations; When I went to the 2015 Pride in the Park, I was 14. Still, I didn’t get any strange looks or comments from older members of the community. In fact, I received the “Most Prideful” award that year.
From my experience, the LGBTQ community in the valley is very friendly and open. I deeply admire that, even though my orientation has changed from pansexual to bisexual over the last few years; the community still welcomes me. The Pride Festival vendors were a prime example of this; they were very conversational though I had never met them before, yet it felt like I had known them all for years. It was a magical experience.
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