Pride Reflections

A personal note on faith, identity, compassion, and why giving back matters.

Growing up in Oklahoma, most Sundays and Wednesdays were spent in church. My mom was very active in our non-denominational, Holy Ghost, tongue-speaking church, where she led the children’s ministry. Summers were filled with Bible camps and mission trips.

The mission trips that made the biggest impact on me were the ones where we worked in soup kitchens and homeless shelters. I remember one trip to Dallas where our counselors took away our toothbrushes, combs, deodorant, and extra clothing. We had to earn those items back through acts of service. We slept outside under the stars with only a sleeping bag.

On another trip to Atlanta, we slept on a warehouse floor and served meals during the day. In New York City, I volunteered with mobile soup kitchens. These experiences taught me about dignity, empathy, and how fragile stability can be. I grew up in poverty, and I understood just how close my family might have come to that same situation if it weren’t for the support of our grandparents.

As I got older and moved from Oklahoma to Dallas, to New York City, and eventually to Los Angeles, I started to notice something that stuck with me. Many of the unhoused youth I saw on the streets were LGBTQ+.

I’m grateful to have five siblings, two of whom are gay, and a mother (God rest her soul) who always accepted us. But I know that is not the case for so many others. According to the LGBTQ Homeless Youth Provider Survey, nearly 30 percent of youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+. Many of these young people were kicked out of homes that did not know how to love or support them.

This is why Pride is so personal to me, and why giving back this month matters so much. At Leland Francis, we are committed to more than visibility. We are committed to action. We don’t just change our logo to a rainbow for the month, we live our truth every day.

Pride is not about performative gestures. For me, it is about the life I live. I’ve often said that being gay is one of the greatest blessings God has ever given me, even though I still have nightmares about trying to pray the gay away because of the harmful teachings I was led to believe as a child.

Throughout June 2025, we are donating 25 percent of all sales from PANSY and 20 percent of all other product sales to three organizations doing critical, life-affirming work:

• SAGE, which advocates for LGBTQ+ elders and provides supportive aging services

• The Ali Forney Center, which protects LGBTQ+ youth from homelessness and empowers them through housing, healthcare, and education

• The Los Angeles LGBT Center, which offers comprehensive services in health, housing, advocacy, and legal support

Pride is not a seasonal campaign for us. It is woven into the fabric of this brand. Leland Francis exists to create products that are inclusive, intentional, and made for everyone. This is a brand where beauty is not defined by gender or expectations, and where self-expression is always welcome.

If you are still finding your way or searching for a place to belong, please know this: you are seen, you are not alone, and you always have a place here.

With love and pride,
Dillon Peña
Founder, Leland Francis