I will forever be indebted to my teachers but the state of North Carolina doesn’t make it easy for them to stay. With astoundingly low pay and the introduction of new bills that would limit their ability to do their jobs, I am afraid that many of the teachers who helped raise me will not be able to help their future students in the same way.

As I reflect on what pride month means, it’s not just celebration. Pride is about accountability. It is about growth and change. June marks anniversaries of the Stonewall rebellion and the legalization of same-sex marriage in all 50 states. It symbolizes the strength of the LGBTQ+ community and reminds us that complacency is not necessary; equity is.