In the words of Taylor Swift, “You need to calm down,” pride events are not over yet and really the theme of pride should never be over. On Saturday August 24th Brightside Counseling Services will be at the Castle Rock Pride event! Come and join us!
This is a free event from 12pm – 5 pm at the Douglas County Fairgrounds in Castle Rock. The event will have entertainment, children and teen events, food trucks, vendors, and resources for how to get involved and support the LGBTQ+ community in Castle Rock and surrounding areas.
Brightside Counseling Services will be a proud supporter of the event and strives to make a positive impact in the community. We do this by being involved in different events that can support people and create awareness for the importance of a person’s mental health. Brightside Counseling Services will be offering a free stress and anxiety questionnaire for attendees to take. . Brightside Counseling Services will be able to provide additional information about mental health services and the benefits of seeking help when life can feel overwhelming. Brightside Counseling Services will also have additional prizes and activities for the whole family.
“The mission of Castle Rock Pride is to build a supportive community for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ+) residents of Castle Rock, Colorado and surrounding areas. We do this by offering a variety of community events and resources including monthly support groups, family meet-ups, educational opportunities, and an annual Pride Picnic. Through these events, we strive to build positive networks of support and inclusion, promote equality, and foster acceptance of diversity” (Castle Rock Pride, 2019).
The above mission statement is something Brightside Counseling Services aligns with as well and we realize that while getting involved in supportive events is making a difference, the difference our community needs to make continues after the day event. This means supporting a person when you may be the only person able to support them. Standing up for people may feel uncomfortable but it makes a greater impact than we may know at the time. In our society many times we talk about pushing back against hatred but what about when it puts us out of our comfort zones? We still need to stand up and do something when we see a person being treated unkindly. We teach our children to be kind but how many times do we turn the other way, when really, we should have said something. So, while pride month is technically over, we can still make a difference every day. This entails showing continued support to the LGBTQ+ community as well as supporting other people even when it may not be comfortable or trending at that time. We need to be aware of the challenges people face and having “support months” is a helpful reminder to connect and support those most vulnerable. It is important to take our pride in humanity and our fellow neighbor with us through out the rest of our year and years ahead. Being kind and supporting others does not end when the month ends.
We hope you are able to join us and look forward to the Castle Rock Pride! For additional information about the event please feel welcome to check out the link: https://castlerockpride.org/pride-festival/
If you or someone you know is struggling with Mental Health Issues and would like more information please check out our website https://brightsidecounseling.com/meet-the-counselors/ to contact one of our counselors or call 303-353-9226.
By Sarah Richards
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