June is LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Pride month. Many cities around the world mark the occasion with festivals, parades and other activities. The events have become significantly larger over the years, and reflect the progress of the gay rights movement.
History of Pride
Most major pride celebrations take place at the end of June. The month is significant because it honors the anniversary of the June 28, 1969 Stonewall Rebellion, which occurred in New York City at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. Many people believe this event was the birth of the LGBT movement.
In the late 1960s, police commonly raided gay bars. After the Stonewall Inn was raided on June 28, 1969, the gay community responded with a series of violent demonstrations and protest rallies over the course of the next few days. Several activist groups were formed with the goal of finding safe places for gays to meet without fear of prosecution. Another objective was to continue to pressure police and the local government with confrontational tactics. Three gay newspapers were also founded to help draw attention to the cause. The following year, the first gay pride marches occurred on June 28 in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles in remembrance of what happened at the Stonewall Inn.
Biggest Pride Celebrations
Some of the largest pride events are:
- Toronto’s WorldPride. This is the biggest celebration in North America. Over 1.5 million people participate in a series of activities that span 10 days each June. They include a human rights conference, AIDS candlelight vigil, parades and musical performances.
- New York City hosts NYC Pride, which takes place at the end of June. It features a big march and an all-women dance party. One can always expect a combination of history and fun in the city where the modern gay rights movement was founded.
- Twin Cities Pride in Minneapolis and St. Paul offers a Pride Parade, rainbow run, art exhibit and beer tasting festival.
- Philadelphia Pride festivities also top the list. They largely occur in and around the Washington Square West neighborhood and include a block party and Dyke March. What else would you expect from the City of Brotherly Love?
Other Ways to Commemorate Pride
- Learn the History
Learning about important figures in the gay rights movement is a way to participate in the celebration.
Examples include:
- Brenda Howard, who died in 2005, is considered by many to be the “Mother of Pride.” She was born in 1946 in the Bronx. Howard, a bisexual and an anti-Vietnam War activist, became a significant force in the LGBT rights movement.
- Harvey Milk was California’s first openly gay politician and an icon in LGBT history. Elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977, Milk was instrumental in the passage of important gay rights ordinances. Fellow City Supervisor Dan White gunned down Milk and San Francisco Mayor George Moscone on November 27, 1978. In 2009, Barack Obama posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Milk.
- Matthew Shepard was a gay University of Wyoming college student who was severely beaten and left for dead on October 6, 1998. He passed away several days later in the hospital due to head injuries. His death sparked a tremendous outcry and prompted the creation of The Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Prevention Act, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009.
- Watch a Movie
A host of films have been made that feature positive, conflicted and complex LGBT characters. Some examples are:
- Brokeback Mountain
- Beginners
- Milk
- Dallas Buyers Club
Pride month is one of the most important times of year in the LGBT community. It is a time to remember, celebrate and plan for the future.