Friends Of Los Alamos Pride Profile: Cait Bain

Friends of Los Alamos Pride Member Cait Bain. Courtesy/FLAP
By KELLY DOLEJSI
FLAP

It’s time to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride! This year marks the sixth Los Alamos Pride Week, June 11-17, and the fourth in-person Pride Festival from 3-7 p.m. Friday June 16, on the lawn at Central Park Square (adjacent to Boese Bros and the Y Express). As Pride Week approaches, Friends of Los Alamos Pride would like to introduce its board members — the heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears behind all the county’s Pride festivities. Today, we would like you to meet Cait Bain.

Who are you?

I am a former sexual health educator through the Responsible Sex Education Institute. Currently, I’ve just completed my clinical mental health counseling internship at Los Alamos Family Council and will begin working at You, Me and Therapy, which is a virtual counseling office that works mainly with LGBTQIA clients, among other populations. I also am a proud parent of three children and married to an amazing and supportive person.

Why did you join FLAP?

I joined FLAP because as a queer person who grew up in Los Alamos, I recognized a need for events to celebrate pride for the community. I lived in Albuquerque when I came out and was welcomed onto floats during pride and attended many pride activities. When moving back to Los Alamos, I missed the sense of open community and love that I experienced in Albuquerque Pride and wished to help facilitate that here.

I often shy away from speaking out about myself and my family due to not wishing to be a target of hate. I love this community and everyone I’ve met and worked with here. We are an incredible place and one in which I intend to remain for as long as possible. I appreciate so much all of the hard work the FLAP board has done to promote inclusivity and support of the members of our wonderful community.

Why is Pride important to you, to Los Alamos, and to the broader community?

Working with many folks in the community, young and older, I know that there are many LGBTQIA folks here who deserve community and safety. Pride is a time to celebrate our awesomeness and feel connected to each other. Our community is a special one where there can be a sense of isolation, so finding ways to bring people together and challenge the isolating experience that can happen is so important for the health of our community.

Why is Pride important right now, at this point in history?

Given the polarized and strong reactions from others, and the lived experience of danger that many LGBTQIA folks face, it is of the utmost importance for people of all ages to know that they are loved and that they matter. Seeing the community come together and give visibility to lives that often need to be hidden due to safety is a liberating experience.

What Pride event are you most looking forward to?

The flag walk around the pond is a special moment, one in which I had to miss out on last year due to attending class. My children enjoyed bringing their flags and seeing others participating in celebrating identities. I’m, of course, looking forward to the Saturday festival and seeing all of the businesses and individuals supporting my family and community.

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