Why Pride Still Matters (Especially for Gay Men Over 40)

by William E. Smith – Gay Life After 40

As June approaches and rainbow flags begin to flutter from porches and storefronts, it’s easy to see Pride as a youthful celebration of freedom, identity, and love. But for those of us over 40, Pride isn’t just about the party — it’s a profound reminder of where we’ve been, how far we’ve come, and why we must keep showing up.

If you’re a gay man in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or beyond, this season means more than just glitter and parades. It means visibility. It means legacy. And for many of us, it means healing.

We Lived Through What Others Only Read About

Many of us came of age when being out wasn’t an option. We remember the fear of losing jobs, families, or even our lives just for being who we are. We remember the AIDS epidemic not as history, but as our reality — the empty chairs at Sunday brunch, the obituaries that came far too soon.

So when we show up for Pride, we carry the memories of friends we lost, protests we marched in, closets we kicked open, and love we were once told we didn’t deserve. That alone makes our presence powerful.

Aging with Pride: The Visibility We Deserve

Let’s face it — LGBTQ+ culture often idolizes youth. But Pride gives us space to say: We are still here. We still matter. Our stories, our survival, and our laughter are part of the foundation the younger generation now walks on.

If you’ve ever felt invisible at a gay bar, or overlooked in a dating app, Pride is your moment to shine. Not as someone who was relevant, but as someone who is vital — to this movement, this community, and this moment.

Pride as a Space for Healing and Joy

So many of us spent our youth trying to shrink ourselves. Pride is our annual invitation to expand — to be louder, freer, and more joyful than we thought we were allowed to be.

Dancing in the street at 50, kissing your partner in public at 60, wearing a tank top and unapologetically showing off that proud, lived-in body at any age — these are revolutionary acts. Acts of joy. Acts of self-love. Acts that tell the world: We made it.

The Work Isn’t Over — And We’re Not Done

While we’ve seen enormous strides in LGBTQ+ rights, there’s still work to do. Trans rights, racial justice, elder care, and healthcare disparities — these are still our issues too. Pride reminds us that we’re not just survivors; we’re leaders. Mentors. Witnesses to history and agents of change.

Let’s use our voices, our stories, and our platforms — whether at Pride events, in our communities, or here online — to lift others up and keep the spirit of Pride alive.

A Call to Pride

This Pride season, I encourage every gay man over 40 to step into the celebration — whether in person, online, or in your own heart.

Tell your story. Share a smile. Show up in your fullest, truest self. Because we didn’t come all this way to fade into the background. We came to shine.

Happy Pride. You belong here. You are seen. And you are worth celebrating — every single year.

—
William E. Smith
Founder, Gay Life After 40