Pride Month is celebrated every June, and it’s a time for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and equality. But the origins of Pride Month go back to the early 20th century when the LGBTQ+ community was fighting for visibility and acceptance.
The Stonewall Riots
In 1969, homosexuality was illegal in the United States, and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people was widespread. Police raids on gay bars and nightclubs were common, and LGBTQ+ people faced harassment and violence. On June 28, 1969, a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, sparked a riot. The patrons fought back against the police, and the ensuing clashes lasted several days.
The Stonewall Riots are considered the beginning of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The following year, the first Pride Parade was held in New York City to commemorate the riots and to demand equal rights for LGBTQ+ people.
The First Pride Parades
The first Pride Parades were a series of marches and protests that took place in several cities in the United States in June 1970. They were organised to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and to demand equal rights for LGBTQ+ people. The marches were not only a call for equality but also a celebration of diversity and inclusivity.
The first Pride Parades were small and relatively low-key, but they marked the beginning of a movement that would change the world. Over the years, Pride Parades grew in size and popularity, and they spread to cities all over the world.
Pride Month
In 1978, Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in California, proposed that the last Sunday in June be recognised as Gay Pride Day. The idea was adopted by the city of San Francisco, and it became an annual event.
Over the years, Gay Pride Day evolved into Gay Pride Week, and eventually, into Gay Pride Month. Today, Pride Month is celebrated not just in the United States but in many countries around the world.
The LGBTQ+ community and its allies use Pride Month to raise awareness about LGBTQ+ rights and to promote equality and inclusion. Pride Month is also a time for celebration, with parades, festivals, and other events taking place throughout the month.
Pride Month has a rich history that dates back to the Stonewall Riots of 1969. The LGBTQ+ community and its allies have come a long way since then, but there is still much work to be done. Pride Month serves as a reminder of the struggles of the past and the ongoing fight for equality and inclusion. It is a time for celebration, reflection, and a renewed commitment to the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights.
