Pride Month is more than rainbow flags and parades. It’s about honoring the LGBTQ+ community—past, present, and future. It’s about celebrating love in all its forms, standing tall in your truth, and fighting for a world where everyone feels seen and supported. Pride is personal, powerful, and worth shouting from the rooftops.
Sometimes, the right words can help you express what Pride means to you. Whether you’re looking for a quote to post during Pride Month, add to a sign, write in a card, or just keep close to your heart, these lines speak to the strength, beauty, and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. Each one comes from someone who’s helped shape the world with their voice, visibility, or vision.
Here are some of the most powerful Pride quotes to share and celebrate:
- “When you become the image of your own imagination, it’s the most powerful thing you could ever do.” — RuPaul
- “I am not gay, but if I were, I would be the first one running out of the closet.” — Dolly Parton
- “There are two or three things I know for sure, and one is that I would rather go naked than wear the coat the world has made for me.” — Dorothy Allison
- “Personally, coming out was one of the most important things I’ve ever done, lifting from my shoulders the millstone of lies that I hadn’t even realized I was carrying.” — Sir Ian McKellen
- “Every single American — gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgender — every single American deserves to be treated equally in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of our society. It’s a pretty simple proposition.” — Barack Obama
- “If I wait for someone else to validate my existence, it will mean that I’m shortchanging myself.” — Zanele Muholi
- “Love him and let him love you. Do you think anything else under heaven really matters?” — James Baldwin
- “Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?” — Ernest Gaines
- “There’s nothing wrong with you. There’s a lot wrong with the world you live in.” — Chris Colfer
- “Hope will never be silent.” — Harvey Milk
- “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” — Marsha P. Johnson
- “You don’t have to be gay to be a supporter — you just have to be human.” — Daniel Radcliffe
- “To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.” — Oscar Wilde
- “The single best thing about coming out of the closet is that nobody can insult you by telling you what you’ve just told them.” — Rachel Maddow
- “No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow.” — Alice Walker
- “The rainbow flag is a symbol of freedom and liberation that we made for ourselves.” — Gilbert Baker
- “It is absolutely imperative that every human being’s freedom and human rights are respected, all over the world.”— Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir
- “When you put love out in the world it travels, and it can touch people and reach people in ways that we never even expected.” — Laverne Cox
- “Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.” — Lucille Ball
- “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” — E.E. Cummings
- “To realize a world of equality and dignity for all, we will have to change laws and policies; we will also have to change hearts and minds.” — Rick Parnell
- “It’s just really important that we start celebrating our differences. Let’s start tolerating first, but then we need to celebrate our differences.” — Billie Jean King
- “While as a society we are moving toward greater inclusion and equality for all people, the tide of history only advances when people make themselves fully visible.” — Anderson Cooper
- “We’re all born naked, and the rest is drag.” — RuPaul
- “Darling, I want my gay rights now.” — Marsha P. Johnson
- “When we’re free to love anyone we choose, when this world’s big enough for all different views, when we all can worship from our own kind of pew – then, we shall be free.” — Garth Brooks
- “Hate never wins out in the end. It instead goes always to its lonely, dusty end.” — George Takei
- “Race, gender, religion, sexuality, we are all people and that’s it. We’re all people. We’re all equal.” ― Connor Franta
- “Being an ally can’t just be about nodding when someone says something we agree with – important as that is. It must also be about action. It’s our job to stand up for those who are not at the table when life-altering decisions are made.” — Kamala Harris
- “We are powerful because we have survived.” — Audre Lorde
- “We deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame and without compromise.” — Elliot Page
- “There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it’s now okay to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly until it’s simply the way things are.” — Tammy Baldwin
- “Everyone should be able to express themselves in the way that best suits them – life is too short to spend it unhappy.” — Jinkx Monsoon
- “History isn’t something you look back at and say it was inevitable. It happens because people make decisions that are sometimes very impulsive and of the moment, but those moments are cumulative realities.” — Marsha P. Johnson
- “Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses, because we were born this way.” — Lady Gaga
- “Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.” — Jason Collins
- “We will not win our rights by staying quietly in our closets.” — Harvey Milk
- “I’m not missing a minute of this. It’s the revolution!” — Sylvia Rivera
- “Love is never wrong.” — Melissa Etheridge
- “My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.” — Audre Lorde
Send Love With Personalized Happy Pride Cards
A personalized Pride card is a wonderful way to show support, spread love, and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re sending it to friends, family, or anyone in your circle, these cards can be a heartfelt expression of pride and solidarity. Customize your card with vibrant colors, meaningful quotes, and unique designs that reflect the spirit of Pride Month.
Shutterfly offers a variety of options to create the perfect Pride card, from customizable designs to adding your own photos. Sending a Pride card is not just about the occasion—it’s about fostering a sense of belonging and love, making every recipient feel seen and valued.
Related Resources on Pride Quotes
Whether you’re looking for the perfect gay pride quote to share on social media, or meaningful Pride Month quotes to inspire your community, these powerful words help honor the beauty, strength, and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. From bold declarations of love and identity to uplifting affirmations of equality, Pride quotes remind us of the ongoing journey toward acceptance and visibility.
Pride Month may come once a year, but the spirit of pride—of being unapologetically yourself—should be celebrated every day. Whether you’re creating custom gifts, planning a Pride party, or simply spreading positivity online, adding an inspirational LGBTQ quote can make your message even more impactful.
Let your voice shine loud and proud. Share a quote that speaks to your story, empowers someone else, or brings joy to your circle. After all, love is love—and that’s always worth celebrating.
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