In honor of Pride Month - which I can't seem to stop thinking about - allow me to present a simple response to the ignorant statement: "Pride is a deadly sin."Yes, you're right. Traditionally, pride is a sin, when it's toxic. But when it's pure, it's a fuel for self-empowerment, which we as a community crave - no, need.Pride is only harmful when we use it as a replacement for kindness, when we become so self-absorbed that we forget our true compassionate nature.The multicolored heart of this month's celebrations is a crystal of pride in its rawest form. All honest fractures and inclusions, no polish. There's no denying that LGBTQ+ people have been discriminated against and marginalized for centuries, due to society's general distaste for "abnormalities" and the pressure of religion's stubborn, doctrinal thumb.After all this time, a collective voice is medicinal. Double, triple dose. That's why it seems so loud. So vibrant. That's why the pride this time of year generates is shocking for those who are used to a silent system. (Let's make some ears ring!) People are disturbed, not only by societal change, but by aspects of life that seem new - even when they've been around this whole time, hiding in plain sight.Furthermore, pride for one's work is harmless and beautiful - whether that's creative work, graduating, getting a job, hard labor, marriage, raising children, or social justice. To be proud of one's accomplishments is completely natural. Western society still has plenty bruises, cuts, and razor bumps to work through, but we've come so far in this realm. Let's keep it up.