This is the (a story) of my first experience at a gay pride event. I was vising my uncle and his partner in the summer of 2019 when I was 16, shortly after I discovered my attraction to men. Some of the characters and events of this story have been changed to protect my family and friends identity, in case they don’t want to be identified as heathens (jk – lol). Now on to the story!
Axel stepped out of the car, his heart racing with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The rainbow-colored flags fluttered in the warm June breeze, and the streets of Seattle were alive with music, laughter, and an energy he had never experienced before. It was his first time at a gay pride parade, and the 16-year-old couldn’t help but feel a little overwhelmed.
“Come on, Axel!” his Uncle Jack called out, grinning from ear to ear. “You don’t want to miss the start of the parade!”
Axel took a deep breath and followed his uncles, Jack and Michael, into the throng of people. As they walked, he couldn’t help but notice the countless same-sex couples holding hands, kissing, and embracing each other with a freedom he had never witnessed in his small Midwestern hometown.
A pang of guilt twisted in his stomach as he caught himself staring at a particularly handsome young man, his shirt off and his muscular chest gleaming in the sun. Axel quickly looked away, his cheeks burning with shame. He had always supported his gay uncles, but confronting his own newfound attraction to men was something he hadn’t quite come to terms with yet.
As the parade began, a dazzling array of colorful floats, dancers, and marchers filled the streets. The air was electric with joy and pride, and despite his discomfort, Axel found himself smiling. He watched as his uncles cheered and waved, their love for each other and their community radiating from every pore.
Suddenly, a hand touched Axel’s shoulder, startling him from his thoughts. He turned to see a friendly-looking boy about his age, with striking blue eyes and a warm smile.
“First time at Pride?” the boy asked, his voice soft and understanding.
Axel nodded, his heart pounding in his chest. “Is it that obvious?”
The boy laughed, a sound that made Axel’s stomach flutter. “Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. I’m Liam, by the way.”
“Axel,” he replied, shaking Liam’s hand and marveling at the way his skin tingled at the contact.
As the parade continued, Axel and Liam chatted and laughed, their connection growing stronger with each passing moment. Axel found himself opening up about his struggles, his fears, and his hopes for the future. In Liam’s company, he felt a sense of belonging he had never experienced before.
As the day wore on and the parade came to a close, Axel and Liam found themselves walking hand in hand through the crowded streets. The touch of Liam’s skin against his own felt like a revelation, a secret language that spoke directly to Axel’s heart.
They stopped at a nearby park, finding a quiet spot beneath a towering oak tree. Axel’s heart raced as Liam turned to face him, his blue eyes shimmering with emotion.
“Axel,” Liam whispered, his voice soft and tender. “I know we just met, but I feel like I’ve known you forever. Is it crazy to say that?”
Axel shook his head, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “No, it’s not crazy at all. I feel the same way.”
And then, in a moment that seemed to stretch into eternity, Liam leaned in and kissed him. Axel’s eyes fluttered closed, and the world around them fell away. The kiss was gentle, sweet, and filled with a promise of something more.
When they finally parted, Axel felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The guilt, the shame, and the fear that had plagued him for so long seemed to melt away in the warmth of Liam’s embrace.
“Thank you,” Axel murmured, his forehead resting against Liam’s. “For everything.”
Liam smiled, his fingers intertwining with Axel’s. “You never have to thank me for being who you are, Axel. You’re perfect, just the way you are.”
As the sun began to set over Seattle, Axel and Liam made their way back to the car, where his uncles were waiting. Jack and Michael took one look at their nephew’s glowing face and the handsome boy by his side, and they knew that something special had happened.
“So, how was your first Pride?” Jack asked, a knowing twinkle in his eye.
Axel grinned, his heart full to bursting. “It was amazing,” he said, squeezing Liam’s hand. “Absolutely amazing.”
As they drove away from the city, Axel knew that his life had changed forever. He had found a piece of himself that had been missing for so long.
