Melissa Payne’s Powerful Pride Message Strikes a Chord Across Social Media

By Scott Arnold

A personal post from the Peterborough-area musician about identity, faith and acceptance is resonating with thousands of people online.

powerful message from local musician melissa payne getting a lot of attention on social media
(photo via facebook @melissa.a.payne

What started as a heartfelt reflection on Pride Month has turned into one of the most talked-about local social media posts of the week.

Local musician Melissa Payne shared a deeply personal message on Facebook Tuesday, opening up about her experience growing up while struggling to understand her sexuality and the impact that negative attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people had on her mental health.

In the post, Payne wrote about hiding who she was as a young person, feeling different from her peers and spending years trying to suppress a part of herself. She recalled being asked if she was gay while in Grade 7 and the fear and uncertainty that followed.

Payne also spoke about her faith, saying she prayed often about her feelings and later about her relationship with her partner, Katie. Rather than feeling rejected, she wrote that she found peace and acceptance.

While the post touches on Pride, Payne said the message is really about the young people who may be reading conversations surrounding LGBTQ+ issues online.

"The reason Pride matters to me has very little to do with rainbows," she wrote. "What matters to me is the kid sitting in a classroom feeling the way I felt."

She went on to describe how comments describing LGBTQ+ people as "disgusting, sinful, mentally ill, confused, or wrong" can affect young people who are still trying to understand themselves.

Payne revealed that depression and suicidal thoughts she experienced growing up were not caused by being gay, but by believing there was something wrong with her because of it.

The post has drawn a significant response since being published, collecting more than 1,800 reactions, 266 comments and 178 shares in less than 24 hours. The overwhelming majority of comments have been supportive, with many people thanking Payne for sharing her story and for speaking openly about experiences that others may still be struggling with themselves.

The message concludes with a simple hope that regardless of differing opinions, people can remember there are real children and teenagers reading these conversations.

"Kids who are scared. Kids who are praying. Kids who deserve to know they are loved exactly as they are."

For many readers, that message appears to be the reason the post continues to spread.

Click on the photo below to read her full message.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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