Pensacola, Florida is the secret Pride destination where you can truly be yourself

You read that right.

It's no surprise that many people may feel nervous about showing their Pride this year, especially in the state of Florida.

However, the inclusive beach town of Pensacola, Florida not only accepts all walks of queer life... but they celebrate everything the LGBTQ+ community stands for.

This year, Pensacola celebrated 30 years of Pride over Memorial Day weekend and gays from across the United States traveled to the white sand beaches and slapped on their Speedos to enjoy all of the queer festivities.

Known as the largest LGBTQ+ Memorial Day event held in North America, scroll below to see all of the reasons why I hope to show my Pride in the panhandle for many more years to come.

• You read that right.
• 1. It's so inclusive.
• 2. It's an absolute blast.
• 3. It's all about community.

1. It's so inclusive.

There's nothing quite like queer freedom than hanging with a bunch of gays on a gorgeous beach.

Pensacola, Florida is world-renowned for the beautiful weather and their soft white sand, so it's a no-brainer that the gays would invade the beach for Pride weekend.

For many in the LGBTQ+ community, the fear of rejection or being unable to live life authentically prevents a lot of people from coming out of the closet or embracing their queerness.

I know if I had known about events like Pensacola Pride when I was a kid, I have a feeling it would have encouraged me to start loving myself at a much younger age.

Not only is everyone expressing themselves freely while enjoying Pride, but all of the people attending the staple event are so kind, engaging, and ready to party all night long.

2. It's an absolute blast.

From the circuit parties to the tea dances and afters, there's something for everyone at Pensacola Pride.

This year's celebration had everyone dancing nonstop as the lineup included some of the top DJs from around the globe, including drag sensation Trixie Mattel.

The queen brought her signature humor to her upbeat set that made everyone in attendance beyond proud to be queer.

For me, the circuit parties serve as some of the best memories I'll have for the rest of my life. I can't think of anything better than dancing with your fellow queers before escaping to the beach in the middle of the night to watch the full moon over the water.

If everything I'm saying sounds like a movie, that's because it feels like one.

3. It's all about community.

One thing that many queer people have in common is the beauty of being embraced by a chosen family.

Whether if it's made up of close friends, extended family, or simply people you bonded with while attending Pride... I can confidently say that the branches that make up my LGBTQ+ family have grown quite a bit by visiting Pensacola.

This was my second year visiting the panhandle and I was able to reconnect with so many amazing people I had the pleasure of meeting last year. I can confidently say that it felt like no time had passed since the memories we made the year prior.

It can be very easy to get caught up in all of the fear and hysteria in the world we're living in today, but thankfully the kind locals and visitors who attend Pensacola Pride make the craziness in our everyday lives fade away for just a few days.

Pride Month is in full effect, but it's never too early to start planning all of the lifelong memories that come with Pensacola Pride for next year. To learn more, check out the official website here. I'll hopefully see you there!