Same-sex relations are criminalized in 72 countries — with more than 3 billion people living in nations where being gay can result in arrest, incarceration and even the death penalty.

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Each June, I celebrate my pride in being a member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community. It is a time to celebrate our diversity, beauty and strength, and to appreciate our history. In 1969, the Stonewall uprising ushered in a new era of organizing, and the first gay pride marches began in 1970. Today, millions of people across the world participate in Pride events.

I remember coming out publicly and cautiously in 1995 as a college student in North Carolina. A few years later, I helped friends organize the Dyke March in Washington, D.C., and attended Pride Marches in New York and San Francisco. I remember the fun and excitement but also the feeling of injustice and the impatience to be seen and treated equally. For several years, I’ve brought my kids to Pride events in Seattle, so that they would feel a part of this community and understand our vibrancy and our struggles.

After more than 20 years, Pride Month has a new meaning for me. In the last few years, I have had the great fortune to get involved with OutRight Action International. OutRight’s mission is to advance the human rights and well-being of LGBTIQ people globally. I have learned a lot about the progress that has been made here in Washington state and in many places around the world. Twenty-six countries now have marriage equality, and many countries have enacted anti-discrimination laws to protect LGBTIQ people. In 2016, the United Nations appointed the first-ever independent expert to monitor human-rights abuses related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

However, I have also learned about the tragic and dangerous conditions many LGBTIQ people still face worldwide. Same-sex relations are criminalized in 72 countries — with more than 3 billion people living in nations where being gay can result in arrest, incarceration and even the death penalty. Such laws disproportionately impact LGBTIQ people of color and are often a shameful part of the legacy of colonialism. 2017 was the worst year in memory for queer people globally. Hundreds of people were shamed, detained, tortured and killed in Chechnya, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Tanzania and beyond. It is clear that demanding human rights is not a priority for the Trump administration.

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This year, the theme of Seattle Pride is “Pride Beyond Borders.” There could not be a more fitting focus for our celebration and our resolve in 2018. Don’t get me wrong — our communities still face inequities, discrimination and violence — even here in Seattle — and we must keep working until we are all thriving.

However, I am thankful for the chance to shine a light on the realities too many still face on a daily basis — and the strength of our community — around the world. I am also grateful for the opportunity to establish connections between our local and global movements for safety, freedom and dignity for all people, everywhere. We must be in solidarity with each other to survive and thrive.

A few months ago, I attended OutRight’s annual advocacy week. More than 40 LGBTIQ human-rights defenders from all over the world came to New York for training and to meet with high-level diplomats and U.N. agencies. I could not have been more inspired by the diverse, accomplished, dedicated and courageous activists who shared their experiences and demands for equality.

I’ll never forget what my friend Anjelika from Belize said on the last day: “Being a lesbian in a highly discriminatory society was an everyday challenge. But after meeting other global LGBTI activists, I am overloaded with great hope that we can change the world … that we have to! I am fearless and powerful in my quest to shake, provoke, challenge and demand what is rightfully mine! I dare to be! I dare to be seen! I dare to love and be loved! I dare to live and by God, I dare to be happy!”

To me, this is what Pride is all about. Happy Pride, everyone!