Winston-Salem Pride 2026

Written by Andrew M. Shaw, MEd, LCMHC, NCC
Psychotherapist

All over the world, LGBTQIA+ communities celebrate Pride. From  big cities to  small towns, gatherings take place throughout the year. This year, we’ll be celebrating Pride in Winston Salem on June 13, 2026. I’ll be there with Banyan Tree Counseling & Wellness, our table alongside so many other local organizations, businesses, artists, advocates, and performers. Our team at Banyan Tree is committed to  queer- and trans-affirming mental health care, and I’m so happy to be attending Pride this year with them!

As part of the community myself, I know that we come to Pride for different reasons. I’ll be going to Pride to celebrate with my Banyan Tree Counseling colleagues. But I’ll also be going to Pride because I know what it’s like to be afraid to come out. I’ll be going to Pride because I remember how rare it once was to see pride flags on local businesses. (And it still brings joy to see them!) I’ll be going to Pride because I enjoy pop music, drag performances, and kitschy t-shirts with bawdy puns.
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But most of all, I’ll be going to Pride because—regardless of the challenges we face—it is vital to have time and space to celebrate our joy, creativity, compassion, and love. The pain, struggles, and grief we experience are all too real. Pride does not need us to deny these realities. But Pride also invites us to dance, sing, connect, and celebrate. Pride reminds us that life is beautiful.

Wishing you a very happy Pride!

Author, Andrew Shaw, meets with counseling clients at the Winston-Salem office and also offers online telehealth counseling throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. They provide individual psychotherapy for adults (18+).

Andrew’s work focuses on supporting clients as they move toward greater self-acceptance and personal growth. They bring clinical training, knowledge, and counseling experience to each session, while recognizing that their role is not to tell clients what to do. Instead, Andrew creates a supportive, collaborative environment where clients can deepen self-understanding and take meaningful steps toward their goals.