Rainbow banners line College Avenue every June. The first time I walked past them as a freshman, I only thought, ‘Nice colors’. Four years later, those flags remind me of friends who once ate lunch in the bathroom to avoid bullying, of patients whose pulse rates spike when medical forms still ask for “Mother” and “Father” only. Pride Month matters because it proclaims, You don’t have to shrink here.
How my view has grown
I’m a straight Punjabi American woman studying nursing. Until college, I thought Pride was just a parade. Listening to roommates describe the relief of finally using the right pronouns—or the fear of doing so in front of family—taught me that Pride is about breathing room. In clinical rotations, I see how acceptance reduces stress hormones and improves heart health. I aim to foster a professional medical environment of respect and mutual trust.
Daily Allyship Practices from a Medical Professional Perspective
● Listen first. Let people tell you who they are before labelingthem.
● Ask for pronouns. A five-second question can make someone feel safer for an entire appointment or interaction.
● Speak up. When a joke stings, say, “That’s not okay.” Silence sounds like agreement.
● Keep learning. Follow LGBTQ+ healthcare professionals online and read up on inclusive care guidelines.
Lessons learned—and still learning
Allyship is a verb, not a badge. I’m still talking with my Punjabi relatives about queerness, still updating clinic forms that erase non-binary parents, and still figuring out how to build more inclusive waiting rooms. Pride Month encourages me to keep going.
A note to other allies
Start small: share health facts, donate to youth shelters, or simply use someone’s chosen name. When we stand together, Pride becomes stronger, safer, and louder—for everyone.
Mehak Saggu (she/her) is a junior nursing student at Rutgers University and member of Peer Health Exchange’s Youth Advisory Board. She advocates for honest, youth-led health education and safe clinical spaces for LGBTQ+ patients. Off campus, you’ll find her painting watercolor cityscapes, hiking New Jersey state parks, or testing new recipes.