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Healing, Strengthening, and Advancing the Lives of LGBTQ People Seeking Recovery

Strut Your Pride

Strut Your Pride

  June Cover

Strut Your Pride

If there was ever a time to strut your pride, this is the time. With all that is going on in the world- the need to claim, own and celebrate YOUR fierce uniqueness, as an LGBTQ person, is more important than ever. This is not the time to sit it out, be a bystander or worst of all, be on a panel of judges deliberating on why we all just need to calm down. NO! If you identify as LGBTQ or are an ally – NOW is the time to grab your rainbow flag, shake your tambourine, hit the gym/get pumped, (if that is your thing). It’s time to lead the parade on your motorcycle, slip on your most hoochie shorts and prance, baby, prance down 5th Avenue in NYC, up to Santa Monica Boulevard in LA and in every city that will have us!Today, it is clear to me that we need to dig into our LGBTQ community soulfulness. We need to be seen. We need to be heard and we need to strut our pride every opportunity we can. How you strut your pride is up to you. I just suggest being nice as often as you can unless, of course, someone treats you unkind. When someone or some institution is unkind, then call upon your fairy god/goddess fierce families to support you!

Why Dancing Can Be So Healing

My first sober Pride parade was in 1994, and yes, I was actually in the parade on a float. Oh, and by the way, it was a fierce float with some of the most amazing people; many of whom I still know today. I am not sure how I worked up the courage or how I even physically did this. However, I jumped off the float and led our float in dance from Fairfax Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard to Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood where we continued dancing after the parade route.This was such a liberating experience. I thought, like so many others, that I would never have fun without drinking and drugging. However, I am so grateful that I was proven wrong. Learning to dance sober in a social setting and having people around me that supported my sobriety was key.Now to my point on why dancing can be so healing to our recovery. For one, it can help free the space in your mind that is trapped in what everyone thinks about you. It’s not easy but as Nike says, “JUST DO IT,” get on the dance floor and let it loose. Secondly, dancing helps produce the endorphins and many neurotransmitters are released when you exercise. Dancing also stimulates the release of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Who knew, these brain chemicals, including endorphins, play an important part in regulating our mood.I felt depressed for almost a year after getting sober. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and abusing stimulants for extended periods of time such as methamphetamine and cocaine depletes us of these necessary chemicals. Want to feel better. Try dancing! This Pride season, reach out to a friend and encourage them to attend a Pride month commencement event; march with you in your local parade; donate and/or volunteer for an LGBTQ event or cause. Get involved and own your outrageously gorgeous LGBTQ spirit and soul!Written by: Manny Rodriguez – Founder and CEO La Fuente Hollywood Treatment CenterManny Thumbnail         [kkstarratings]    

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