Pride always makes me think of a friend who now lives in Europe. When she was in Addis Ababa, she was very brave. She had a girlfriend, and though they couldn’t date openly, it was clear they wanted to build a life together – making plans for the future, even having children.

After moving to Europe, everything changed for her. She now says being a lesbian is a “sin” and that she doesn’t want to talk to other gay Ethiopians anymore. We were scared she might tell people about us.

I had hoped living in a more open place like Europe would help her accept herself more. But I’ve learned that self-acceptance and pride have little to do with where you live. True pride is about being okay with who you are, no matter what.

As a lesbian living in Ethiopia, I’m proud to love women. Pride isn’t about what others think – it’s about self-love. This Pride season, I appreciate my true self. Happy pride.