Everyone has an “Inner Glam.” All you need to do to bring out your glamorous side is to listen to your most authentic self. Chase after whatever makes you happy unapologetically.

In short; Be Proud of Who You Are!

Here at TOMO, we believe that everyone deserves to feel glamorous. We want to share our support for the LGBTQIA+ community by celebrating everyone’s right to be the star of their own story. 

In this post, you’ll find the best ways to celebrate your inner glam, whether you go to a parade or enjoy the festivities from your home.

What Is Pride Month?

June kicks off Pride Month every year in countries across the world. This gathering of people from all across the spectrum of LGBTQIA+ people is a time to come together as a community, fight for equality, and embrace diversity.

This month’s celebration started initially to commemorate the Stonewall Riots and has since then evolved into a beautiful and colorful gathering of LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.

Typically hundreds of thousands of people flock to pride parades and festivals globally as a collective show of self-expression and identity.

However, this year things are a little bit different. We are (thankfully) at the tail end of the pandemic, but many large cities are still planning to play it safe.

Organizations supporting pride celebrations have had to find creative ways to share their support for the LGBTQIA+ community due to the cautious re-opening of some cities. 

Luckily, If there is one thing the past year has taught us, it’s that we have to make the most of what we’ve got. That means taking care of each other as a community, accepting everyone as they are, and living authentically as ourselves every day.

How To Tap Into Your Glam This June?

“Pride” means a lot of different things to different people- but at the end of the day, we all unite around how our blood, sweat, and tears make us the same. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Queen, King, Gay, or They - it is your right as a human being to celebrate.

Whether you want to show your inner glam by shouting what you are proud of to the heavens, or if you prefer a quiet night in with a luxury robe and someone you love, these tips are for you.

1. Wear It With Confidence

If you want to dress like a total diva, go for it. If what makes you feel like a star is a pop-of-color bag with a simple suit, do that instead! 

No matter what you want to wear, dress like it’s the last time you’ll ever be able to do so. Embrace your statement pieces and blinged-out accessories. 

Trust yourself in whatever you want to wear. If you follow your heart, then the outfit will take you halfway, and your confidence will do the rest.

For example, If getting endless compliments is your thing, add a rhinestone-embellished water bottle to your outfit as a practical and fabulous way to show off how glamorous you are!

2. Attend A Parade

While most organizations are being cautious this year, some parades and festivals may still be open. Since most of the usual festivities will look a little different, check out your local LGBTQIA+ Organizations for official guidance on how to safely participate in events where you live.

If there is no gathering in your area, but you still feel like partying, there are many virtual events happening this year as well! If you are looking for somewhere to start, try NYC’s virtual Pride event on June 27th. 

They will be broadcasting most of the usual festivities, including the legendary Pride Island, so that you can enjoy them from the comfort of your own home. 

3. Show Up For Your Community

Sometimes, the best way to celebrate ourselves is by uplifting others in our community. If you have some spare time, volunteer with your local LGBTQIA+ organization. 

Volunteering is a great way to meet people with interests deeply rooted in a cause that matters to you. Studies have even shown that volunteering can increase your overall happiness if you haven’t already started doing so. All the extra fuzzy feelings can totally help you increase your glam game. When you feel amazing, you look fantastic as well.

Another great way to get in touch with your glam is to support LGBTQIA+ art and culture. Attend drag shows, performances led by community members, and art galleries or shows featuring LGBTQIA+ artists. 

If you need somewhere to start, the TOMO team has partnered with the amazing Queens of the digital show Bag, Drag, and Swag to celebrate Pride Month! You can see their fabulous faces here!

4. Show Support From Home

If you need to take care of your mental health this year and join in on the festivities from home, know that you are still totally dazzling! Whatever makes you happy, show it off!

Hang pride flags, put stickers everywhere, lounge around in rainbow socks… the world is your oyster, baby! You are the king (or queen) of your castle. That means celebrating on your terms, however you like to do so. 

You can also share your story on social media! If you are in a safe place and feel comfortable doing so, there is a chance that you could inspire somebody else also to be true to themselves. 

There are plenty of platforms to do this on, but if you are a member of our glamorous TOMO community, we would love for you to show off. Post a photo of you celebrating your fabulous self to #TOMO4Pride on Instagram to share your story with our community of total glam aficionados!

5. Donate to LGBTQIA+ Organizations

The choice to monetarily support a group actively fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights could be the difference in essential funding and supplies for building momentum in the movement.

Not all organizations are created equal. However, when you choose a group to donate your money to, consider each organization’s benefits and see which aligns most deeply with your values. 

If you are new to donating in this field, a few great places to start are The Trevor Project, GLAAD, The National LGBTQ Task Force, and the National Association of LGBTQ Journalists.

An important note is that there are countless local organizations to support as well. Research the groups in your area and give money directly to your community to help make the place you live a more welcoming place for all LGBTQIA+ individuals.

The Importance of Being an Ally

Even if you are not directly a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, it’s important to remember that everyone is welcome to the party! If you want to be a great ally to the community, consider these few things:

• Remember to show your support even after Pride Month is over. 

• Allow space for LGBTQIA+ individuals to share their experiences without talking over them. While your input is always valuable, some experiences are unique to the community. If you want to learn how to help, listen first.

• Have fun! There are times where the community comes together over heavy topics that are necessary to talk about. But Pride is also a time to celebrate, and the more people who join in on the festivities, the more fantastic the celebration will become!
  

What is Your Favorite Way to Celebrate?

Pride is a celebration of the struggles, successes, and togetherness of the LGBTQIA+ community. When you learn to celebrate your authentic self, you learn to tap into the inner glam that is hiding inside of us all and use it to transform the world for good. 

While we tried to be comprehensive as possible, the topics that one can write about Pride are as diverse as the LGBTQIA+ community itself. Share your favorite way to celebrate in the comments below!

Before You Go...

We want to make getting in touch with your inner glam easy as pie, so we’re offering an exclusive $25 off sitewide during the whole month of June to celebrate Pride.

Each water bottle purchase gives one person clean drinking water for the rest of their life. Meanwhile, you will receive a stunning crystal water bottle that will turn heads on every corner. Celebrate your glam in style with a bottle that shines almost as brightly as you do.

Author:

Julia Bratu, TOMO Team: Julia is a copywriter and content writer who specializes in sustainability and the luxury industry. Her mission is to make complex topics more accessible to the average person by writing fun, reliable, and inspiring content. 

Sources:

Yurcaba, Jo. "Pride 2021: Big Cities 'playing the Safe Card' with Small Gatherings, Virtual Events." NBCNews.com. NBCUniversal News Group, 22 May 2021.

"Stonewall Riots." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 01 June 2021. Web. 

Lawton, Ricky N., Iulian Gramatki, Will Watt, and Daniel Fujiwara. "Does Volunteering Make Us Happier, or Are Happier People More Likely to Volunteer? Addressing the Problem of Reverse Causality When Estimating the Wellbeing Impacts of Volunteering." Journal of Happiness Studies. Springer Netherlands, 17 Mar. 2020.