🌈It was a fun weekend of Pride festivities 🥳 which also had me reflecting back to all the years since I first attended, how things have progressed and currently being regressed by some dark political and religious factions, as well remembering back to a time in the 80’s, deep in my own tormented closet, when I was stuck in traffic and face to face with this massive parade for the first time. 🌈 It was a sense of a mix with anger, shame and shun. Thinking out loud, “why do they have to shove this in my face?” I just didn’t get it then. 🌈 It took more years of self torture, jealousy, denial and self shame as well one of the darkest periods of my life for which I am grateful I am still alive on earth. I finally acted out on my internal urges. I decided it was time to do it for ME and I will never forget my mantra then was “fuck what anybody else thinks!” 🌈 Even after that release, it took a lot of time to become more comfortable with it, with me and to begin starting to spill the beans. My story like every one else’s is multifaceted like a diamond 💎 in its glory now yet prior being buried deep and created with insurmountable amounts of pressure buried down in the dark depths below. 🌈 I looked around to see so many different types of people, so diverse in color and gender and sexual identity. The festival, bars and parade are now a place for friends of all kinds to gather. Straight friends with gay friends, with trans friends, with bi friends; just friends having fun and being supportive. 🌈 I however went solo and over the weekend only saw a few friends making me wonder if many have moved on. I know some have passed on so it made for a trip down memory lane and all the years; where I’ve been and am now, where we as a group are as well the country and world for that matter. 🌈 . . . . . . . #shirtlessguys #wehopride #trainvegan #vegan #mensfitness #guywithstyle #leanmuscle #wehopride2019 #gayvegan #fitnessmodel #pride🌈 #fitguy #randallapollo #swag #alcoholfree #nohangovers #singersongwriter #vegangay #pride #fitfam #directorofphotography #veganmuscle #plantbased #vegangains (at CSW/LA Pride) https://www.instagram.com/p/BylASeuBNFo/?igshid=r67qou8h4ct1