The annual Panhandle LGBTQ Pride event was held last Saturday, and it changed my life for the better.

As a member of the LGBTQ family and also a person from a small, often closed-minded town, I’ve struggled with my sexuality and with accepting myself.

Sometimes I’m proud of being a pansexual woman and sometimes I’m so far in the closet, I’m hanging out with the White Witch in Narnia.

Attending an event full of like minded, accepting, and proud people has shown me that despite the people that are unaccepting, there’s an entire community in Shepherdstown that will gladly take me in and love me for whomever I decide to love.

It was especially incredible seeing teenagers and children at Pride, whether they were there with LGBTQ family, or because they’re LGBTQ.

There were at least three church vendors at Pride offering a safe space to worship free of intolerance, which I wish my own childhood church would offer.

I’m happy to live in a town that embraces people and strives to make them feel welcome and I hope the Pride events continue to grow throughout the years.