Before the Parade Starts: What Pride Really Means to Us

Pride Month is here — and I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to celebrate it. That’s exactly what Joe Federico (my fabulous co-host) and I unpacked in the latest episode of Unpacking Live. If you missed it, don’t worry — I’m sharing some highlights here, and you can watch the full episode below.

In this chat, we weren’t just talking about parades and rainbow merch. We dug into what Pride means on a personal level — from the nerves of showing up at your first Pride, to the joy of finding your place in the community, to the importance of supporting queer-owned and ally-owned small businesses (especially this year, when so many big brands are backing away).

Here are a few themes that really stood out:

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🌈 Your First Pride Can Be Scary — and That’s Okay

Joe shared a beautiful (and emotional) story about his very first Pride — almost 20 years ago in NYC. It was big, overwhelming, joyful, and nerve-wracking all at once. I shared my own experience coming from Chile, where Pride wasn’t visible when I was younger, and how attending my first Pride here in Maine (in my 40s!) was an incredibly affirming moment.

Takeaway: There’s no “right way” to do Pride. Whether you show up at a massive parade or celebrate quietly at home, it’s valid. You are valid.

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🌈 This Year, Let’s Show Up for Those Who Show Up for Us

We talked candidly about the disappointing trend of corporate pullback from Pride sponsorships — and why it’s more important than ever to put our dollars behind businesses and organizations that truly support the LGBTQ+ community year-round.

As small business owners ourselves, Joe and I both believe that small, local businesses are the heart of Pride — whether it’s a queer-owned coffee shop, an artist at a local market, or yes, shops like Hunky Tops that serve and celebrate this community with love.

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🌈 Pride Tips You Didn’t Know You Needed

Joe also shared some super practical tips for making your Pride experience more enjoyable:

• Wear breathable clothes (I may have worn the wrong thing at my first one — lesson learned!)

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

• Be mindful — you don’t have to do or grab everything all at once. Pride is a marathon, not a sprint.

Read more tips in our article.

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🌈 Celebrating the Hunky Tribe

Finally, we wrapped up by announcing the winners of our first-ever Hunky Tops Flexathon! If you haven’t checked out the gallery yet, head over here — you’ll see just how creative, joyful, and sexy our community can be. This was such a fun way to kick off Pride season and celebrate the folks who rock their Hunky Tops with pride.

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🎥 Watch the Full Episode

There’s so much more we talked about — from queer history to personal reflections to what’s next for the Hunky Tops community. I’d love for you to watch the whole conversation and join us. You can catch the full episode right here:

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🌈 What Does Pride Mean to You?

I’d love to hear your thoughts — leave a comment below or drop me a message. And if you have ideas for future Unpacking Live topics, send them my way!

Wherever you are and however you celebrate — remember: you are part of this community, you are loved, and you belong. Wear it proud. Make it Hunky. 💪🏽