I was recently reminded of a thing New Yorkers do; I noticed it years ago. 

After the Knicks’ won the championship, Spike Lee talked about how he saw everyone walking around NYC dressed in their “orange and blue.”  He talked about how, with a nod and nothing more, they connected with each other. No words – just the nod. 

When I am out on a run in in NYC, runners nod at each other. I’ve never experienced that in other places - not on the trails, roads or beaches where I’ve run. Not in CA, GA or FL. If anything, they use words in passing. That’s it. 

The nod is special. When we nod, it’s an acknowledgment that we see each other. It's a recognition. And these days, more than ever, we need to see and recognize each other. 

It’s Pride month. Pride, an acronym for “Personal Rights in Defense and Education,” is a concept born in 1967 when the Gay community in L.A. pushed back against police brutality.

Pride is not about the immutable characteristic of being LGBTQ. To be proud of being Gay would be akin to being proud of having skin and bones. It's not an accomplishment worthy of merit, it's how some of us came into the world. 

Pride Month is about celebrating the resilience and courage it takes to live openly despite the risks that come with visibility. And it is not reserved for LGBTQ people. Living openly and with integrity - standing for something - can be risky. 

When we walk past one another on the street and nod, we create an instant connection. It doesn’t require that we wear the same colors. It merely requires a willingness to see and be seen. We humans are, after all, on the same team.