This month (and every month!), we are proud to celebrate, empower and amplify the resilience of our instructors and the entire LGBTQ+ community. 

Will Hemond

What does Pride mean to you?

For me: Pride is about acknowledging, celebrating, and embracing who I am – and who everyone else around me is. 

What do you wish people knew about Pride?

It’s not just a one month thing. We need to be listening and helping to amplify those who feel diminished all year long!!!

What’s your favorite Pride memory?

My first Pride being openly (and proudly) gay in Boston. Growing up in a small town, there was never a lot of representation of the LGBTQ+ community. Being surrounded by so much love and like-minded people in one place was overwhelming (in the best way). 

What are you most proud of in your life?

Wow, heavy hitting question! I’m proud of myself for most of what I’ve done….but lately I’ve been feeling most proud of the little things that happen day in, day out. You don’t always have to wait and feel pride for major accomplishments – celebrate the little stuff!

Do you have a favorite Pride song?

Not necessarily a favorite song…but to me, anything by Kim Petras or Betty Who scream Pride!!

How are you celebrating Pride on the bike this month — in-studio and on Stryde?

Catch my Kim Petras (DUH!) class on Stryde! And if you’re in Denver, themes every Monday of June: Best of Rupaul Drag Race Lip Syncs (June 6), Taylor Swift (again, DUH!… June 13), and LGBTQ Artists (June 20)

Keep up with Will on Instagram and ride with him on the Stryde app.

Thomas Obershaw

What does Pride mean to you?

What Pride means to me is the ability to be the full expression of yourself unapologetically and to be able to create space in your life for others to do the same. 

What do you wish people knew about Pride?

What a lot of people don’t know about Pride is that the movement was started with transgender people of color taking a stand against oppression in NYC. We see these over the top rainbow celebrations now, which are so amazing, but we need to remember the incredible courage it took to stand up at a time when you could be jailed or killed for being part of this community. 

What’s your favorite Pride memory?

My favorite Pride memory has to be the first time I ever went to Pride. It was in Chicago and I was in college. I was dating someone at the time that was in the entertainment world and he was going to be in the parade so I got to march all through the parade with him and I’ll never forget that feeling of being surrounded by people that were like me for the first time ever. 

What are you most proud of in your life?

What I’m most proud of in my life is that I had the courage to never stop believing in myself and that there was a life out there waiting for me to live. I grew up in a farm town in Iowa and was bullied every day of my childhood. There were times that I couldn’t ever imagine things getting better for me but something in me just kept believing. I’m extremely proud of my life, my marriage and my chosen family.

Do you have a favorite Pride song?

My favorite Pride song is probably Born This Way by Gaga. She has been one of the most amazing allies for our community and that song embodies inclusion and acceptance. 

Keep up with Will on Instagram and ride with him on the Stryde app.

Brian Swinney

What does Pride mean to you?

Pride is truly a celebration. It’s a time for us to celebrate our uniqueness and own our fierceness. It’s a time for us to thank the work the queer community and our allies have done to support the LGBTQIA+ community while also acknowledging how much work still needs to be done in our world for everyone to feel accepted. This is the time to remember – we should never apologize for who we are and we should never mute our true colors.

What are you most proud of in your life?

As a black gay man, I am constantly proud of my community. I’m proud and honored to be surrounded by my friends and family who give me so much love everyday. I feel lucky to be part of a company that encourages me to be fully myself! 

Do you have a favorite Pride song?

Who can say no to born this way by Lady Gaga!

Keep up with Will on Instagram and ride with him on the Stryde app.