Happy Pride & Juneteenth!
Hello to the Collective!
This is such an exciting and celebratory month for all of us and we are excited to spend it with you! We have a special collaborative newsletter this week that was jointly written by our amazing staff Maritza Ruelas and Debbie Whyte, ATR, APCC. If you want to hear more from our team, subscribe to our podcast, My Therapist is Out! You can find the pod at the Spotify, Apple Pod, & YouTube links below.
Pride is Personal
by Maritza Ruelas (they/them)
When I think about Pride month, there are mixed feelings because I understand everyone acknowledges pride differently. There are some of us that have the privilege to express ourselves fully and openly, to the idea of pride. While there are also some of us who this is not a choice and it is something that interferes with safety.
I never really choose to go all out when it comes to celebrating pride. I see so much rainbow capitalism around this time and it’s really off-putting for me. Seeing all these big corporations slap rainbows on everything for 30 days, is really something else. I have been more intentional with contributing to queer owned businesses and supporting the community instead. I feel that there’s more awareness around this now, and I see how the community uplifts each other.
I love the vibes pride brings and seeing queer joy feels so uplifting amidst everything that goes on for the rest of the year. Whatever way you choose to acknowledge pride, I hope it is a safe and loving expression of this month-long celebration of pride. -Maritza
Juneteenth - Connecting To Our History
by Debbie Whyte ATR, APCC (she/her)
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday celebrated in the United States on June 19th. It commemorates the emancipation of enslaved Black people and the announcement of their freedom in Texas in 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Over the years, Juneteenth celebrations spread across Texas and eventually expanded to other states to honor their ancestors and reflect on the struggles and achievements of their community. These celebrations became an important tradition, passed down through generations, and served as a symbol of resilience and determination. In recent years, there has been a renewed focus on Juneteenth, and on June 19, 2021, it was officially recognized as a federal holiday.
Juneteenth is a day to honor African American heritage, culture, and achievements while acknowledging the work that remains to be done in achieving true equality and justice for all. It stands as a reminder of the resilience, strength, and determination of the African American community and their ongoing contributions to the fabric of American society.
I recently started honoring Juneteenth once I understood the history behind it. This was never taught in my early days of school and way back then, if I did hear about it, it always seemed to be something that was specific to Texas.
I now connect Juneteenth celebration/Freedom Day with not only an opportunity to acknowledge the struggles, the fight (then and now) for equality/equity/inclusion and acknowledgements of contributions made by Black people but I also add an element not often talked about…that is our mental health. There was a recent study that showed Black people are the one group of people that can develop mental illness due to all the racism/micro-aggression/discrimination they receive on a daily basis. Black people endure and endure to the point where we are expected to be “strong” or we hear “get over it and keep going” and “that’s just how it is, don’t make waves”. Even when we are feeling low or dealing with past trauma, we put on a happy face. When we are angry, we can’t show full anger otherwise we get labeled “angry Black person”. Our mental health is always put on the back burner or not taken into consideration by others. So, I decided to take a mental health day on Juneteenth and honor how I see fit for that day. After all, the ancestors would want it that way!
In reflection, I realize that I’ve often given myself the rest I so needed because usually by the time Juneteenth arrives, I’m feeling burnt out from work and barely have enough energy to engage in anything that requires socializing. So, I’d rest, watch a documentary, read a book and nourish my body with our familiar comfort foods. This year, I plan to still rest but I’m feeling very festive and will take part in a few local events happening. I love the unification Juneteenth is bringing but with that comes appropriation {sigh}…I cannot control what others do but I can control my response and where I choose to spend my money. With that being said, here is a list of things to do during the month of June and especially for Juneteenth! -Debbie