What It Really Means to Show Up for LGBTQ+ Bay Area Communities
By Mikey J Smith
Pride Month is colorful. It’s loud. It’s joyful. But underneath the parades and rainbow flags, there’s a deeper story that often goes untold—especially right here in the Bay Area.
At Family Giving Tree, we believe that real support starts with understanding. So this Pride month, let’s take a closer look at what LGBTQ+ communities are experiencing in our own backyard—and why education, access, and equity still matter long after June ends.
Behind the Rainbow
This region is home to one of the largest and most vibrant LGBTQ+ populations in the country. But for many queer folks, especially youth and trans individuals, life here is anything but easy.
A disproportionate number of LGBTQ+ young people in the Bay struggle with housing insecurity, often because they’ve been rejected by the people who were supposed to protect them. Accessing stable housing, affirming healthcare, and mental health support? That’s a full-time job on its own.
And while we live in a place that prides itself on progress, the reality is that discrimination—subtle or blatant—still shapes too many lives. For some, it shows up as being misgendered in school. For others, it’s being passed over at work or priced out of safe neighborhoods.
Resilience Isn’t Just a Buzzword
In the face of all this, LGBTQ+ communities keep showing up—for themselves, for each other, for future generations.
We see it in the Bay Area’s incredible queer-led organizations: Places like LYRIC, and The Lavender Project, which we've mentioned in previous blog posts. Or places like the LGBTQ+ Youth Space in San Jose, which offers community and mental health support.
These aren’t just nonprofits. They’re lifelines. They’re proof that community care works—even when systems fall short.
What Does Showing Up Look Like?
It’s not always loud or flashy. Sometimes, it looks like making sure a queer student has the school supplies they need to walk into class with confidence. Sometimes it’s learning how to be a better ally. Sometimes it’s volunteering, donating, or simply listening more closely.
And yes—sometimes, it is celebrating. Because queer joy is revolutionary too.
Pride is a Start—Not a Finish Line
At Family Giving Tree, we believe in showing up for all students. That includes LGBTQ+ youth who deserve not only backpacks and books, but safe, affirming spaces to learn and grow. Because when a student feels seen, supported, and celebrated, something powerful happens. They show up ready to learn—not just with supplies in hand, but with confidence in who they are.
And that? That’s the magic of confidence.
So as the rainbow flags fly, let’s remember what Pride really asks of us: To act with empathy. To show up with purpose. And to keep going—even after the parade ends.
