Powerful music draws inspiration from our lived experiences and connects us to community. The most potent music of all gives us space to celebrate life and love. In Tom Goss’ “Pride” music video (2021), we’re shown a queer love story told through a lens that reflects on a loving couple’s story of falling in love through the decades of activism for LGBTQ+ rights.
When it comes to music videos about pride, Tom Goss kept it real by telling and depicting real queer stories and lives that the song honors, including a touching story with the man who plays a romantic role in the “Pride” music video.
Kayden Peterson-Craig holding a martini glass in the Tom Goss “Pride” music video
Who is Kayden?
Meet Tom Goss‘s on-screen lover, Kayden Peterson-Craig. The scenes of the love between him and Tom come from a genuine place, one of authenticity through advocacy for his community and lived experience as a gay trans man. Kayden has been no stranger to the sentiments of the song, nor the work it’s taken to advocate for the lives of LGBTQ and marginalized communities he’s supported throughout his life.
Now, Kayden is in the fight of his life, with his real-life husband and child right beside him.
Earlier this year, trans man and Utah community hero, Kayden, was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. His doctors have confirmed there is no cure for his specific type, and treatment is focused on managing symptoms as they arise — including an ongoing round of chemotherapy and an upcoming surgery. Despite everything, those who know him still describe him as determined, tenacious, strong, and giving.
“He is an incredibly strong and prideful man. He is a giver, not a taker.” — Travis Richards, friend and organizer
Kayden’s Historic Service to the LGBTQ+ Community
Before making his mark in an iconic track about gay pride and liberation, Kayden was making some of the history that inspires songs like Tom’s. Since the 2010s, Kayden has given years of blood, sweat, and tears to a Utah non-profit called the Royal Court of the Golden Spike Empire.
A registered 501 c(3) since 1976, the RCGSE is Utah’s oldest LGBTQ+ organization and has organized 50 years of fundraising efforts, including drag shows and community events for its Cancer Fund, Transgender Fund, Pride Fund, and even a People’s Concern Fund, just to name a few.
Much like the organization’s monarch and supporting members, Kayden has been empowering local drag artists and performers to utilize their talents to raise charitable funds available to anyone in need, all while building a safe place for people to turn to when they need lasting community connections.
In 2018, the RCGSE went on to crown Kayden as their 43rd Emperor as an elected leader, a highly respected title of responsibility to serve the community. Together, they’ve raised thousands upon thousands for people in need of mutual aid and support during harsh battles with illness, homelessness, and struggles that commonly afflict LGBTQ+ people. His spirit of giving was even made a foundation of his reign’s theme, “Reign of Strength, Unity, and Service.”
Kayden’s Giving Nature to All
His dedication to serving those in need didn’t stop at fundraising to fight AIDS or raising funds for scholarship opportunities with the RCGSE. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, he donated over 10,000 school lunches to children in need and created the “Pay It Forward” program at his restaurant in Ogden, Cafe Villa Bella, letting anyone buy a hot meal for someone who couldn’t afford one.
Even while his own business struggled to keep its doors open, Kayden made it a priority to show kindness to the world and mobilize for change on both person-to-person and community levels.
Noting his accomplishments of continued charity and encouragement to pursue the culinary arts that led to Kayden’s restaurant opening, his alma mater, Park City Culinary Institute, has dedicated a scholarship to the LGBTQ+ community in Kayden’s honor.
What Kayden Faces Today
Despite his giving and upbeat nature, Kayden’s treatment for stage 4 cancer is grueling and expensive for even the most resilient people. Kayden’s family is currently facing costs that add up, like:
Medical treatments and specialist visits, co-pays, hospital stays, and treatments not fully covered by insurance
Medication and ongoing chemotherapy care
Childcare for his 2½-year-old child during treatments, surgeries, and recovery
Lost income during treatment, as he is currently unable to work
Essential living costs including mortgage payments, utilities, groceries, and funds to support his family
Tom Goss’ “Pride” paints an emotional picture of LGBTQ+ ancestors and community that have fought for our rights even before the struggles we’re facing now, and sings of the loving connection made with people in our community — people like Kayden, who have carried the torch of progress forward throughout his lifetime, impacting us all and those who will be here long after we’re all gone.
When we think about coming together to stand up for community, when see each other through the dark and walk together into the light, Tom’s lyrics in this song couldn’t be more relevant than they are today:
Tom cast an exemplary example as the portrayal of his triumphant love. Their representation of queer liberation and connection is more than just characters in a touching video; it shows authentic community members creating what pride means.
While the song’s message highlights a story of building a life with someone, it shows us what pride means by existing and fighting side by side, together in community.
In real life, Kayden is the shining example of kindness and community leadership that has inspired part of the interwoven lives of LGBTQ folks featured in the music video. He has lived to see a world that he’s sacrificed so much to build, a world including a loving husband and daughter who have been right by his side through his entire battle, proving that love is what makes a family and gets us through it all.
When you support Kayden in his hour of need, you’re supporting a person who’s known for his acts of service and advancement of human compassion on a local level. You’re supporting a real family that can relate to loving and knowing Kayden, a family preparing to carry on his legacy.
Much like the legacies represented in the montage of queer history footage of the “Pride” music video, we can bring justice and support to Kayden’s story and honor his years of inspirational leadership that reflect the message of Tom’s lyrics:
“That is pride, fighting for those you have never met.”
How You Can Help
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Kayden and the Peterson-Craig family cover the costs associated with stage 4 cancer. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a real difference. Your care matters.
Goal: $100k Raised so far: $11,833 (as of March 18th, 2026)
If you can’t donate, please share this article and the GoFundMe link. Spread it across social media, talk about his story on your podcast, write songs about him, send it to friends, and post it in community groups. Visibility saves lives, and every dollar counts towards giving back to the same community Tom inspires us with in “Pride.”
Music has always been about more than any genre or instrument; it’s about history, community, connection, and healing. It’s about the people and artists who make the moments and are brave enough to share theirs with us — the singers, dancers, actors, the faces and stories we remember long after the song fades. Along with Tom Goss and the LGBTQ people who came before us, Kayden is one of those people for so many of us across the communities he’s helped throughout his life. To create a world that honors the impact of art and each other, we must create a world that sees the influences it makes in action. Donate to Kayden’s GoFundMe, make that impact, and support your community with pride.
The post Tom Goss Music Video Star, Community Hero, Needs Our Support appeared first on ROCK THE PIGEON.