Gimme Pride by J. Thomas is a young adult gay story.

Chip's mother has finally agreed to allow him to attend the local Pride Parade because he will be helping his sister Shawna with her booth. Chip and his best friend Jenny agreed to model her lingerie to help boost her sales. Chip may be out and proud, but he has never seen so many gay men or even been kissed. He hopes to meet someone special at the parade. Jenny arrives with a flourish and they get busy dancing to attract attention for the store. Jenny is surprised to see Bobby, a jock from school, whom Chip has had a crush on. Will Chip have his dream come true or is it just a coincidence?

This is a nicely written story about first love. Pride parades are important because they allow people to express themselves with likeminded individuals. It is sad how many people refuse to accept anyone who is different and it is worse in school where the young adults potentially face verbal and physical assaults. Jenny is an incredible person who loved Chip for who he was without reservation. Bobby's reaction to Chip when he approached Bobby was unfortunate, but in the end he showed he true character when he revealed his hidden feelings. I felt that the story ended a little abruptly when Bobby wanted to keep their relationship private while Chip wanted to announce it to the world. An opportunity was missed to explore how they reacted and others responded to their new relationship.

Reviewed by: Teresa