Pride P.E.I. - Through My Lens

Published by CBC Communications

Standing on Grafton Street with what felt like all of Charlottetown, it seemed like the parade was never going to end.

There were more floats than the year before, more people who joined at the end, and more smiles.

Pride Week in Charlottetown had been a major success.

One year ago, I was sitting here writing what would be my coming outarticle to my family. It was the story that accompanied my first Through My Lens photographs for CBC, afterlast year's Pride P.E.I. parade.

I never doubted their love and support for me, but every time I thought about doing so, I was all of a sudden 12 years old and back in a church pew.

When I got home from the parade last year, I sat down with my mind racing and my heart finally ready.

I waited for the article to be published before sending it to my parents saying, "This comes from the heart."

Today I get home, sunburnt and overwhelmed once again by the love and joy experienced by everyone. I find myself thinking about what it feels like to have a community where I belong.

My phone rings.It's my mother. She has church tomorrow. But today she holds up a bisexual flag she crocheted, wanting to know if she got the colours right.

More ofPride P.E.I. through Hannah Jay's lens

Through My Lens is a community series that features the point-of-viewstoriesbehind photos from Atlantic Canada.For Pride celebrations this summer, we offer a peek through the lens of LGBTQ+ photographers andshare their East Coast Pride.