Coming out isn't always smooth sailing, but Captain Sandy Yawn has a useful piece of advice for LGBTQIA+ fans who might be having trouble with embracing their true identities.
"For those that are struggling, when you accept your sexuality and you're okay with it, the others around you will be okay with it," the Below Deck Mediterranean star exclusively told E! News. "When we're not okay, it's uncomfortable for others to be around us, right? So just be okay with who you are and who you love and the others will be okay."
When it comes to Sandy's favorite Pride Month memory, she noted nothing beats New York City's 2019 Pride March when Bravo hosted a rainbow float filled with LGBTQIA+ Bravolebrities and allies.
"That was so much fun," the 59-year-old recounted. "I wish we could do that again. That was incredible. Andy [Cohen] was the DJ. That would be awesome to do again."
And even though the newly married captain is a little too booked and busy this June to attend a Pride parade, Sandy stressed that the month is mostly about the "feeling of being proud of who we are and who we love."
Speaking of, Sandy wed the love of her life Leah Schafer last month on a yacht in Fort Lauderdale surrounded by fellow Below Deck stars Kate Chastain and Aesha Scott.
"It was incredible and beyond my wildest thoughts and dreams," she gushed of the ceremony. "I had no idea the feeling I would have."
Fans will even get to see Sandy's romantic proposal to Leah on Below Deck Med's currently airing ninth season.
"Why not include that?" she said of filming their engagement. "Also to show people that we're normal. We're just two women. It's about love, it's not about the sex. It's about love and I thought that was important."
Below Deck Mediterranean airs Mondays at 9 p.m. on Bravo. And keep reading to see how more stars are celebrating Pride.
Sophia Bush & Ashlyn Harris
The two celebrated their first Pride Month as a couple.
Maren Morris
"The Middle" artist celebrated Pride Month by coming out as bisexual.
"Happy to be the B in LGBTQ+," she wrote in a June 9 Instagram post. "happy pride."
Galyna Saltkovska, Nikki Valentine, DJ Eliad Cohen, Erin Lichy & Meredith Marks
The ladies joined Cohen at his Mezcalum NYC Pride kickoff at Dimes in the Gansevoort Hotel in NYV. Also in attendance at the event: Margaret Josephs and Rachel Fuda.
Margaret Josephs, Rachel Fuda & Lexi Barbuto
The Real Housewives of New Jersey stars and Margaret's creative director/assistant were all smiles at the Mezcalum NYC Pride kickoff.
Tinashe
All hands were on deck when the "Nasty" singer deejayed at Levi’s Pride Month celebration June 8.
Billy Porter
The Pose star served as the grand marshal of Capital Pride in Washington, D.C.
Meagan Good & Sara Foster
The D.E.B.S. costars reunite at a Cinespia screening of their 2004 film in Hollywood.
Adam Lambert
The singer celebrated the launch of Jean Paul Gaultier's exclusive edition 2024 Pride bottle in LA. The party continued at Sunset at EDITION where guests enjoyed cocktails from Tequila Don Julio Blanco.
Wayne Brady
The actor and comedian gets into Marg Mode with Hornitos tequila at Out Magazine and The Advocate’s 2024 Cover Party: “Pride of Broadway'' to celebrate the LGBTQ+, allied theater community.
Katy Perry
The "Roar" singer shared an edited version of Harrison Butker's controversial commencement speech—during which he appeared to make disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ+ community and denounced Pride month—splicing his words together to make it sound as though the athlete praised the graduates over their future careers, promotes "diversity, equity and inclusion" and wished people a happy Pride Month.
As Katy captioned her post, "Fixed this for my girls, my graduates, and my gays — you can do anything. Congratulations and happy pride."
Jessica Madsen
The Bridgerton star celebrated the beginning of June with a social media shoutout to a special someone in her life.
"In Love with a woman,” she captioned her June 1 post, “loud about it and proud about it!"
Sophia Bush & Ashlyn Harris
The One Tree Hill alum shared a moving message of hope to her June 2 Instagram Story under a quote about pride.
"You are perfect," she wrote. "No matter how long it might take, you'll find your people. And they will help you find more and more of yourself. It's worth it. You're worth it."
Meanwhile, Ashlyn shared a reel of her and Sophia enjoying time in Paris, which Sophia reshared to her Story writing, "Mine. PROUD."
Taylor Swift
During her June 2 show in Lyon, France, the "You Need To Calm Down" singer yelled to the crowd, "Happy Pride Month, Lyon," while performing the 2019 anthem.
Ava Philippe
Reese Witherspoon's daughter marked the start of Pride by reflecting on her comments about her sexuality in 2022.
"Once upon a time, some gal on the internet said ‘gender is whatever' in reference to her own sexuality," Ava wrote in a June 2 post. "Many took her words out of context, but she knew what she meant. Anyways, this is her posting for the first day of pride month 2024."
Jessica Betts & Niecy Nash Betts
The songwriter and the Reno 911! star kicked off Pride Month on June 1 at the launch of Gurus magazine's #30voices30days program at Godfrey Hotel Hollywood.
Lizzo
The "Good as Hell" artist attened a pride parade in Los Angeles' West Hollywood neighborhood.
"WEHO PRIDE TODAY," she captioned her June 2 post. "SO MUCH LOVE & HUGS. IF I SEEN YA I LOVE YA."
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