WATCH THIS: Julie Nolen Rides The "Bold" Trail

Julie Nolen shines a lot on the inverse of pride with her new song, "Bold." As important as it is to celebrate being out, Nolen reminds us to honor the rocky road so many of us took to get there by zeroing on the effects of shame. "Bold" highlights the stories of the 40% of unhoused LGBTQIA+ youth who often have nowhere to turn until they find their way to gay bars.

"I often preface this song at shows by saying that a lot of people say they're from the buckle of the bible belt, but where I'm from is more like the chastity belt on top of the buckle of the bible belt. But in truth, that's where this song came from. I grew up in a place and time that wasn't very gay friendly."

Nolen worked with director Eric Booth to highlight callbacks to her own coming out story.

"I wanted this video to really represent our queer youth now and back when. That's why I have throwbacks to lesbian literature like Rubyfruit Jungle. And that Bible that is zoomed in on, that's my actual Bible that I received from First Baptist in Abilene. It has my name engraved on it!"

While the song comes from a deeply personal place for Nolen, she's gratified it's touched so many people – including those who haven't had the same experiences as her. It will be played on a float in her home town of Abiline's pride parade.

"Shame is something I spent my life overcoming. And the truth is, it was never my shame to carry to begin with."

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