June has been known as Pride Month for quite some time, but not everyone understands why. Whether you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, an ally, or just someone who wants to learn more, it’s important to brush up on the history behind all the reasons to celebrate pride. In this article, you’ll learn more about the history of the community and why June is so important.
History of Gay Rights
The fight for equal rights has been going on for quite some time. While people have been standing up for what’s right in their daily lives for ages, there are some monumental events that helped push the movement further.
The timeline of the most important milestones looks something like this:
- Gay rights history begins with Henry Gerber who formed the first gay rights organization, The Society for Human Rights, in 1924.
- Harry Hay forms one of the pioneer gay rights groups that focus on acceptance and support in 1950. It’s called the Mattachine Society.
- DOB (Daughters of Bilitis) is formed in 1955 as the first lesbian rights organization, in San Franciso.
- Illinois decriminilizes homosexuality in 1961.
- A protest breaks out at the Stonewall Inn in New York when police raid the inn. June 28th 1969 becomes known as the historic day of the Stonewall Riots that pushed the fight for equal rights forward.
- Gilbert Baker designs and makes the first rainbow flag in 1978.
- Hundreds of thousands of people march for LGBTQ+ rights in 1979 at the first national March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
The Stonewall Riots
While it was illegal to have gay bartenders and serve gay people in bars and restaurants in the 60s, that didn’t stop the Mafia from operating the bars and bribing corrupt police officers to let the LGBTQ+ community enjoy a drink or two. This happened in many bars, and the Stonewall Inn, New York City, was no different.
Even so, it wasn’t unheard of that the police would raid gay bars.
On the particular night of the Stonewall Riots on June 28th 1969, people decided that enough was enough.
Police raided the Inn and arrested employees for selling alcohol without a license. They also arrested anyone who wasn’t wearing a minimum of three articles of clothing appropriate for their sex. This was all done legally and in accordance with the New York criminal statute that authorized it.
The police didn’t stop there, though, as they also roughed people up and completely cleared the bar. According to gay rights history, Greenwich Village bars have been experiencing such raids more often in a short period of time, and people were getting increasingly angrier about it.
Instead of running away and hiding like they did before, people decided to stick around when they were kicked out. What started as yelling and throwing bottles at the police, quickly turned into a riot, consisting of four hundred people, that later made it into the important history of Pride Month.
In the end, the police had to barricade themselves in the bar while people repeatedly breached those barricades, and even set the bar on fire. Reinforcements eventually showed up, put out the fire, and managed to turn people away from the bar.
Those who were at the protest, notably Tree Sequoia, said that they happened spontaneously and that people didn’t know what was going on at first but quickly got into the spirit. Everyone was just sick and tired of being treated extremely poorly.
The Aftermath
The history of gay rights might not have been born that night, but soon enough, the Stonewall Inn was known as the symbol of resistance and justice. It stood against discrimination and provided a refuge for gay people for years. These riots may not have initiated the movement, but they certainly set a precedent that was hard not to follow.
Political activism was stronger than before, and various organizations doubled their efforts to fight for gay rights. From public demonstrations to the disruption of public meetings and public confrontations with the police, the LGBTQ+ population would no longer be ignored.
The brave people who started the Stonewall riots were an inspiration and a beacon of hope for a better future.
Happy Pride Month— Activities & Ideas on How You Can Celebrate
Now that you know a little bit of the history of pride, it’s time to carry on the old spirit and continue celebrating being your true self. These activities and ideas will help you feel closer to Pride Month and make you understand it on a deeper level.
Decorating Your Apartment
June is the easiest time of year to find pride merchandise. Regardless of how you feel about corporations and pandering, you can still send a clear message to anyone who sets foot into your apartment that you support pride.
On top of that, summer is the perfect time to embrace all the colors of the rainbow. So regardless if it’s just hanging up a flag or going all out with personalized decor, you’ll definitely improve your mood by surrounding yourself with color and positivity.
Celebrating pride doesn’t have to be just an indoor thing, though. If you put decorations on your front lawn or in your windows, you can signal to the world that your home is a place where love is valued above all else. Connecting to other people can be done in numerous ways, and you never know what a powerful connection you can make just by making a passer-by smile with your outdoor decor.
Donate
If you really care about the cause and want to help, find out what your local LGBTQ+ organizations are. Regardless of where you live, it’s almost guaranteed that your local organizations will be in need of helping hands, money, or supplies during this year’s Pride Month days.
If you don’t have any local organizations, you can donate to those that are well-known all around the nation. These organizations provide safe spaces for LGBTQ+ folks, fight for their rights, and offer them help in any way they can.
The good thing about donations is that you can give as much as you can while still contributing to what’s right. Whether you’re able to help out financially or by volunteering your time, you’ll likely be making a difference.
Go to A Pride Parade
Pride Parades are one of the loudest, most colorful, and simply best ways to show the world that you’re done hiding. Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, make your voice heard and participate in one of the biggest events Pride Month has to offer.
Not only are parades fun, but they’re also an excuse to dress however you want without feeling like everyone’s staring.
On top of all of this, though, Pride Parades are great for meeting new people and feeling like you belong somewhere. Those who haven’t had a lot of experience with the LGBTQ+ community should go because it will allow them to get a sense of what we’re fighting for.
The whole point of pride is to share the love, and where better to do that than at the Parade?
Pride Suit Up!
Pride Month is the perfect opportunity to go shopping and get the boldest and most daring clothes you never had the bravery to wear before.
There are a lot of clothes available that show your support for the LGBTQ+ community. Whether it’s rainbows or supportive print, your message will be heard loud and clear.
If you’re planning on attending a Pride Parade, you have even more reason to go shopping for colorful clothes.
Of course, some people simply may not be comfortable with going all out just because it’s Pride Month for whatever reason. Luckily, there are more subtle options that still help you send your message without requiring you to literally wear a rainbow colored suit.
You can find cute pride pins, stickers, bands, and bracelets almost anywhere now.
Educate Yourself
Even the most versed allies can learn something new. Educating yourself allows you to understand the movement and the people that make it on a deeper level. This article is a step in the right direction, but you should also spend some time learning about different sexual orientations, gender identities, and the history of gay rights.
Knowledge is power, so this will definitely be more beneficial for you, but it will also allow you to recognize bigotry more easily and stand against it openly.
Support LGBTQ+ Media
There are a lot of artists that belong to the LGBQ+ community and are trying to make a name for themselves. You can help by supporting their art, whether by attending promotional events or purchasing the media they create. June is full of LGBTQ events like these, so you’ll find them easily.
There is little true LGBTQ+ presentation in the media, and supporting small artists is a good first step to changing that.
Conclusion
Not only is Pride Month important to the LGBTQ+ community, but it’s also important to us as a society. While there is certainly more to come in regards to equal rights, it’s an indicator of growth and acceptance. After all, LGBTQ+ people are still experiencing discrimination, but you can do your part to help the movement by educating yourself, standing up to bigotry, and being a good ally even if you’re not part of the community directly.