When is Pride month?
June is Pride Month, when the world’s LGBTQ communities now LGBTQIA2S+ refers to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Two spirit, come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. Pride gatherings are rooted in the arduous history of minority groups who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who they are.
The original organizers chose this month to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement. Most Pride events take place each year in June, although some cities hold their celebrations at other times of the year.
Who can celebrate it?
Pride events welcome anyone who feels like their sexual identity falls outside the mainstream — although many straight people join in, too.
LGBTQ is an acronym meaning lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer. The term sometimes is extended to LGBTQIA2s+, to include intersex and asexual groups. Queer is an umbrella term for non-straight people; intersex refers to those whose sex is not clearly defined because of genetic, hormonal or biological differences; and asexual describes those who don’t experience sexual attraction.
These terms may also include gender-fluid people, or those whose gender identity shifts over time or depending on the situation.
History of Pride month
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village, and began hauling customers outside. Tensions quickly escalated as patron’s resisted arrest and a growing crowd of bystanders threw bottles and coins at the officers. New York’s gay community, fed up after years of harassment by authorities, broke out in neighbourhood riots that went on for three days.
The uprising became a catalyst for an emerging gay rights movement as organizations such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance were formed, modelled after the civil rights movement and the women’s rights movement. Members held protests, met with political leaders and interrupted public meetings to hold those leaders accountable. A year after the Stonewall riots, the nation’s first Gay Pride marches were held. In 2016 the area around the Stonewall Inn, still a popular nightspot today, was designated a national monument.
Origin of Pride name and flag
It’s largely credited to Brenda Howard, a bisexual New York activist nicknamed the “Mother of Pride,” who organized the first Pride parade to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. In 1978, artist and designer Gilbert Baker was commissioned by San Francisco city supervisor Harvey Milk — one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US — to make a flag for the city’s upcoming Pride celebrations. PRIDE is an acronym for Personal Rights in Defense and Education. The organization was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1966 by Steve Ginsburg. PRIDE, from its very inception, was much more radical than the pre-1960s homosexual rights groups, which were more deferential.
Baker, a prominent gay rights activist, gave a nod to the stripes of the American flag but drew inspiration from the rainbow to reflect the many groups within the gay community. A subset of flags represents other sexualities on the spectrum, such as bisexual, pansexual and asexual.
Celebrations all over the world
Many celebrities have also come forward to observe Pride Month 2022. Elon Musk is also one of them. Pride month is all about parades, demonstrations and parties. The New York Pride Parade is one of the largest and most well-known parades that take place this month. Approximately 5 lakh people attend the parade every year. Take a look at various social media posts related to this month and the celebrations.
Along with the U.S., other countries around the world observe and celebrate Pride Month in June including Canada, Australia, Brazil, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Of all the Pride celebrations and events, one of the largest is, unsurprisingly, in New York City, the place where the LGBTQ movement began in 1969.
This year, after a month-long celebration with various events, New York will host its annual NYC Pride March on Sunday, June 26, 2022.
Here’s a list of other notable Pride Month events happening across the country in June:
- Baltimore: June 20 – 26, 2022
- Chicago: June 25 – 26, 2022
- Denver: June 25 – 26, 2022
- Detroit: June 11 – 12, 2022
- Key West: June 1 – 5, 2022
- Los Angeles: June 11 – 12, 2022
- Nashville: June 25 – 26, 2022
- New Orleans: June 9 – 12, 2022
- Philadelphia: June 5, 2022
- Portland: June 18, 2022
- Provincetown: June 3 – 5, 2022
- San Francisco: June 25 – 26, 2022
- Seattle: June 26, 2022
In India, Pride Month has got some recognition. People are openly coming out in support of the community through various platforms to celebrate Pride Month. Organizations are organizing various events, talks, panel discussions, on various topics related to the community. The recognition is coming slowly; the awareness is spreading in India. Although we still have a long way to go.
Significance of Pride Month
This month is about equality, teaching acceptance, education in pride history and above all, love. During this month, we educate others and ourselves about how damaging homophobia is and why we need to get rid of it. It’s about being proud of who you are no matter who you love. Pride Month is important because it marks the beginning of huge change within the LGBTQIA2S+ community, as well as the wider societal implications. LGBTQIA2S+ still faces harassment from the world but it’s just the start of their long wait for recognition. Pride events welcome allies from outside the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Even we can celebrate with them. These are opportunities to show support, to observe, listen and be educated.
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