A Brief History of Pride

Picture by Margaux Bellott

It’s June, which means it’s…Pride Month! This is the month that marks resistance to injustice and aggression toward the LGBTQ+ community, where true identities are revealed and where parades march proudly. It’s the time to celebrate pride and bring pride under the spotlight. This is for all members of the community who grew up not seeing the type of love they have always wanted on TV or in fairytale stories and this is for everyone who has once felt pressured to conform to a social norm that is not themselves.

Here are some significant historical movements that helped build the foundation of Pride Month. Pride is not only a celebration but also a fight for human rights, social activism, and equality.

The Stonewall Inn Riot

In the 1950s and 60s, homosexuality and other sexual orientations were deemed illegal in 49 U.S. States. Many were charged with “solicitation of homosexual relations” and arrested due to “non-gender appropriate clothing”. On June 28, 1969, a gay bar named Stonewall Inn located in downtown Manhattan encountered various police officer arrests of patrons just like countless other gay bars across the United States at the time. Except for this time, the queer community defended their rights. Leaders such as Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Miss Major showed their pride unapologetically and inspired countless other members of the LGBTQ+ community to do the same.

Christopher Street Day Liberation March

On June 28, 1970, the Christopher Street Day Liberation March marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion and the first gay pride parade. This march was solemn, quiet, and risky in contrast to the vibrant parade today filled with songs and dances. All participants of the parade risked their lives to walk that night to affirm their pride and true selves. These dignified marches and riots, however, contributed to increasing Pride March around the United States in the 1980s which fought back HIV/AIDS stigma and advocated for same-sex marriages.

Gay Liberation Front

Inspired by the continuous fight for justice and equal rights by the LGBTQ+ community, the Gay Liberation Front was formed by Morris Kight in 1969 in New York City as a collaboration of several gay liberation organizations to promote equal gay rights publicly. The Gay Liberation Front influenced similar organizations to be found in the United Kingdom and Canada.

Stonewall National Monument

President Barack Obama named the Stonewall Inn and the area where the Stonewall Riot was located in New York city the “Stonewall National Monument” with the collaboration of the National Park Service on June 24th, 2016. This is the first monument that celebrates LGBTQ+ history and promotes LGBTQ+ pride.

Pride Month is for the fighters who are bold, brave, and honest about who they are and whom they love. Through the Stonewall Riots, the LGBTQ+ community stood up for themselves and no longer suppressed and endured. With the community's relentless effort, Pride is visible and acknowledged in the mainstream. Each Parade march is one step closer to spreading awareness to end stigma and Pride to those who are afraid to reveal who they truly are.

Love is always Love, and it is meant for all.

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Sources:

History.com