In honor of Pride month, WNYC is sharing the personal journeys and reflections of older adults in LGBTQ+ communities. Bronx resident Marie Spivey shares her story.  

The transcript of Marie Spivey's story has been lightly edited for clarity. 

My name is Marie Spivey. I identify as a lesbian. I am 69 years young. I grew up in Harlem. I moved to the Bronx, had a family, had a husband.

I've been involved with the community for most of my life but coming out and really being a lesbian, I was in my fifties when my youngest child went away to school and decided, you know, I'm in the community, I'm involved, and I found somebody of interest -- I did the damn thing.

It was it easy in one sense because I was always involved advocating for the community, and I have family members who are in the community. That part was easy but dealing with my children, even today, it is a problem with my own children. I have five children.

I don't really feel that I missed out. I think that I could have had some more experiences but not missed out in a personal way. It taught me that whatever it is that you want to do, you just have to be brave and do it -- be you. Those who love you and care about you, gonna be there with you and those who don't, you know, you just keep moving forward and leave them on the wayside.

I really led an ordinary life. I really believe that, and just being a human being that cares about other people and advocating and getting involved, that's all that I've been. Nothing has changed. I'm still out there fighting for LGBT elders, making sure that we are heard -- that we are integrated into the community.

It's been a journey. Pride means celebration. Pride means just letting it all out, you know, with enthusiasm, letting people know who we are and how happy we are to be living in these times.