In the past, people who were romantically involved with the same sex were either kicked out of public places or even locked up because it was illegal. Even if they had a sick partner, they could not advocate for them when in need of medical attention. June is Pride Month, which is intended to honor and respect the identity, rights, and inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ community in the United States. There is no doubt that as Americans, we all continuously struggle in a place or a community that we belong to in this complicated society. During this month, it is a perfect opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the person you are on the inside and outside. As part of this celebration of Pride Month, it is also a great opportunity to reflect and understand its history.
Defining Pride
During the first peaceful march after the riots, committee member and activist Craig Schoonmaker, was the first person to suggest using the term “Pride.” He said, “We were going to create a number of events the same weekend as the march to bring in people out of town, and wanted to unite the events under a label…my first thought was ‘Gay Power.’ I didn’t like that, so proposed gay pride” (Arapahoeliz, 2023).
It has also been speculated that “Pride” is the work of Brenda Howard. Brenda Howard is a bisexual New York activist known as the “Mother of Pride”. In commemoration of the one-year anniversary of Stonewall uprising, she organized the first Pride parade.
History of Pride Month
New York City’s Stonewall Inn was the scene of a riot against police brutality in June of 1969. Cross-dressing was prohibited during this period. Your state-issued ID required you to wear a certain amount of clothing items that corresponded to your gender. As a result of this law, police raided bars and arrested transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. On June 28th, 1969, however, police did not expect Stonewall patrons to fight back, which led to a neighborhood uprising.
Moreover, this event led to the establishment of multiple organizations in the United States to fight for the recognition and protection of LGBTQIA+ rights. Others speculate that LGBTQIA+ activism began much earlier (1920s) but was not recognized until the 1950s and 1960s. The Stonewall Riots contributed to the rise of activism.
There was a peaceful march held in 1970, a year after the Stonewall Inn Riots, where people could freely express themselves and their sexuality. To commemorate pride month, peaceful marches, protests, and celebrations have been held ever since. On June 11th, 1999, former president Bill Clinton first designated pride month as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. Ten years later, Barack Obama proclaimed it as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.
In June 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states. According to DoSomething.org, “This was a monumental moment for the LGBTQIA+ community. The Court’s ruling means that states can no longer deny same-sex marriages and must recognize their unions.”
Symbolizing Pride
The rainbow flag is used to symbolize and celebrate Pride Month. The flag was designed and created by Gilbert Baker in 1978. The colors of this flag have their own meanings. To celebrate pride, this flag consists of six distinct colors. Red is life, orange is healing, yellow is sunshine, blue is harmony, and purple is spirit. Originally, the flag consisted of eight colors. On this version of the flag, hot pink and turquoise were included. The color hot pink symbolized sex, while turquoise represented magic and art.
Additionally, the flag was altered in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests in 2021. Black symbolized diversity, brown represented inclusivity, light blue and pink represented the transgender pride flag. Currently, there are 17 different Pride flags to help celebrate Pride Month and the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the year. As a symbol of inclusion, each one symbolizes a different identity.
Celebrating Pride Today
This month of June offers a variety of ways for you to celebrate your identity or honor those individuals in your community who identify as LGBTQIA+. Parades, picnics, workshops, symposia, and even concerts are a few of the ways that Pride is celebrated.
There are also many ways to celebrate others during Pride month. Attend a Pride parade or event – you may become an ally for a family member or friend who is a member of the community. It will signify to them that they are accepted by those who are closest to them. You may be able to assist in designing or creating a t-shirt to celebrate Pride Month. Donate to a charitable organization, especially the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Ensure that the LGBTQIA+ community is valued in your community and around the world by being an advocate for their rights. Take the time to educate yourself about Pride Month by learning how it came to be a worldwide celebration. Support LGBTQIA+ art and culture by purchasing gear. You may also wish to consider your community’s inclusiveness of Pride Month by noting how it is celebrated and supporting the community appropriately.
Importance of Pride Month
A major reason why pride month is important is that it raises awareness about the struggles and challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community. LGBTQIA+ individuals are still subject to discrimination, harassment, and violence in many parts of the world. Pride month provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on these issues and demand change.
In addition, pride month serves to provide a sense of community and belonging. Coming out can be a difficult and isolating experience for many people. Pride month provides a space for LGBTQIA+ individuals to connect with others who have similar experiences. Having a sense of community and support can transform the lives of many people, and it is an important aspect of pride month.
This month is dedicated to honoring and appreciating those members of the community who have died because of hate crimes or other unforeseen circumstances. It also allows a chance to acknowledge the impact that the LGBTQIA+ community has had on history, both locally and nationally.