because I think I’m millennial clever laughs. I am also working on a song called “Party Monster,” which I am planning to debut live at Orlando Pride when I am there. I love performing at Pride celebrations and I have decided that each Pride event I perform at I am going to debut a new song so each performance has a special signifi cance to me. Since Orlando’s Pride is in October, I thought this is the perfect song to debut because it’s about being fun and crazy during Halloween. It is so much fun, I’m obsessed with it. Halloween is my favorite holiday so I am super excited. YOU’RE COMING TO ORLANDO TO PERFORM FOR COME OUT WITH PRIDE, WHICH IS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER FOR NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY. WHAT WAS YOUR OWN COMING OUT LIKE? Coming out for me wasn’t easy because I was raised Mormon. I came out very young, when I was 14. I went through years of correctional therapy, visiting counselors and fi ghting my mom and dad every inch of the way to live who I was. We are now at a point where my parents accept me. For me, when I came out initially at 14, I don’t see that as my coming out. It was when my parents took me out to dinner after accepting me and thanked me for coming out because they said I taught them how to be accepting of people, how to be accepting of gay people. In fact, I have an older brother who came out shortly after I did and they thanked me for helping them to accept him too. Coming out is so important, not just for the person but for those around them, and those in your life who reject you because they probably need you more than anyone. AS A GAY MAN WHO HAS YOUNG LGBTQ PEOPLE FOLLOWING YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND LISTENING TO YOUR MUSIC, WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU KEEP IN MIND WHEN LIVING IN FRONT OF THEM? Being honest with who I am. It’s an easy answer but a complicated way to be. Also, know the community you represent. Know who’s following you and understand that level of infl uence. Me personally, yes I have young LGBT people who are watching me, but I also have 11 nieces and nephews who are old enough to have an Instagram and they’re the main ones that I’m infl uencing. SINCE THE FIRST PRIDE CELEBRATION NEARLY 40 YEARS AGO, THE WORD PRIDE HAS TAKEN ON THIS MULTI-LEVEL DEFINITION AND MEANS MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE. WHAT DOES PRIDE SPECIFICALLY MEAN TO YOU? When I was growing up Mormon I always heard the word P ride associated with the “Devil” and “Hell.” It became something completely diff erent when I came out and experienced my fi rst Pride. I moved to New York City after leaving Texas. The week I got there it was Pride and every street light, every pole and sign is just gay. Everything is covered in rainbows and glitter, and there are fl ags everywhere, and I was just like holy shit. I had never had an experience like that before and I loved it. So Pride became this time of celebration for me with more gay people than I thought even existed. Then I was off ered the opportunity to perform at Pride and I couldn’t believe it. I pretty much credit Pride with the reason I have a career. It just means so much to me now. | ���� | Joey Suarez FROM PG.34 38 COME OUT WITH PRIDE 2017
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