The History of Pride, the Reality of Now, and Why Fox + Feather Shows Up Loudly.
June is here, and with it comes Pride Month — which means Fox + Feather is showing up. Loudly, joyfully, and with our whole hearts.
Before we get to the celebration, I want to say something plainly: Pride was never just a party. It was born as a riot.
The History Behind the Rainbow
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn — a gay bar in Greenwich Village that had become a refuge for gay, lesbian, and transgender patrons in a city where homosexuality was criminalized and anti-gay raids were routine. This particular night, the patrons fought back. What followed were six days of protests and clashes with law enforcement on Christopher Street and in surrounding blocks — a sustained uprising that catalyzed the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Among those at the forefront were Marsha P. Johnson, a Black self-identified drag queen and activist, and Sylvia Rivera, a Latina transgender woman and activist. Both were active participants in the uprising and went on to co-found Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) in 1970 — one of the first organizations in the United States dedicated to supporting homeless transgender youth. One year after Stonewall, on June 28, 1970, thousands of people marched through Manhattan in what was then called the Christopher Street Liberation Day March — the first Pride parade in American history.
That history is not behind us. It is present-tense.
The Mental Health Reality in 2026
Right now, our queer and trans family members are navigating a political climate that questions the validity of their identities and restricts their access to care. The mental health toll is real and documented.
According to the Trevor Project’s 2024 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, 84% of LGBTQ+ youth wanted mental health care — and 50% were unable to access it. Research published in peer-reviewed literature confirms that LGBTQ+ individuals face significantly elevated rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and eating disorders compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers, with transgender individuals at even greater risk.
Access to affirming, competent mental health care is not a luxury. For many in our community, it is a lifeline.
How Fox + Feather Shows Up
At Fox + Feather, we specialize in serving womxn, trans-femme clients, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. This is not a footnote in our mission — it is the heart of it.
Our art therapy services provide a space where you never have to shrink yourself to receive care. Where your identity is not a complication to navigate — it is welcomed, honored, and celebrated. We serve clients ages 8 and older, in person in Guilford, CT and via telehealth throughout Connecticut.
So what does Pride look like for us? It looks like a booth at community events, staffed by a woman in fox ears and her team. It looks like free art-making stations and real conversations. It looks like clinical care that never asks you to shrink yourself to receive it. It looks like showing up — every single week — and saying: you are seen, you are welcome, and your healing matters.
If you are looking for LGBTQIA+-affirming therapy in Connecticut, we would be honored to walk alongside you. Meet our providers or reach out to schedule a free consultation.
A Pride Art Directive
Take a blank page. Choose the colors that feel most like you — not the colors you think you should choose, the ones that actually feel true. Fill the page. No shapes required, no plan. Just color moving from your body onto paper.
When you’re finished, look at what you made and ask: What is asking to be celebrated in me right now?
This is the essence of Pride. Not performance. Not permission. Just the radical act of taking up space.
Happy Pride, Lovelies. We love you without condition.
— Sarah Guercia, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, Founder + Owner
FAQ
What is LGBTQIA+-affirming therapy?
LGBTQIA+-affirming therapy is mental health care that actively validates and supports queer, trans, and gender-diverse identities. At Fox + Feather, affirmation is woven into every aspect of our clinical approach — not treated as a specialty add-on.
Does Fox + Feather serve transgender and non-binary clients?
Yes. We specialize in serving trans-femme individuals and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Our team is trained in gender-affirming care and provides a space where all identities are welcomed.
What mental health challenges are more common in LGBTQIA+ individuals?
Research consistently shows that LGBTQIA+ individuals experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and eating disorders compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers. Transgender individuals face even greater risk. Affirming, specialized care makes a measurable difference in outcomes.
Does Fox + Feather offer telehealth for LGBTQIA+ clients in Connecticut?
Yes. We offer telehealth art therapy services to clients located anywhere in Connecticut, making affirming care accessible regardless of where you live.
What ages does Fox + Feather serve?
We serve clients ages 8 and older, including adolescents, adults, and individuals at any stage of life or transition.
Why Choose Fox + Feather Healing Arts
Fox + Feather is Connecticut’s only group art therapy practice specializing in eating disorder and trauma recovery — with a deep, unwavering commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community. We combine anti-diet philosophy, intuitive art therapy, and the rhythms of nature to create a healing space where the Divine in all of us is celebrated. We accept Husky insurance and most FSA and HSA plans. Meet our providers or contact us to get started.
References
Britannica. (2026). Stonewall riots. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Stonewall-riots
National Women’s History Museum. (n.d.). Marsha P. Johnson. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/marsha-p-johnson
National Women’s History Museum. (n.d.). Sylvia Rivera. https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sylvia-rivera
Ott, K. (2019). Marsha Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and the history of Pride Month. Smithsonian Institution. https://www.si.edu/stories/marsha-johnson-sylvia-rivera-and-history-pride-month
Trevor Project. (2024). 2024 U.S. national survey on the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2024
Springer Nature. (2023). Global LGBTQ mental health. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-36204-0_3