Pride Month: Why is It Important?
Pride Month has become a holiday-like celebration for queer people across the world. June sees constant photos of major cities decked out with rainbows for Pride, parades, special events, and more to celebrate the LGBTQ+ population. However, the origins of Pride represent pivotal moments in the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights and recognition. While Pride is a fantastic annual celebration, it must also act as a solemn reminder of the progress made and the challenges that persist for queer individuals around the world.
The foundations of Gay Pride and Pride Month can be traced back to the Stonewall Uprising, a series of spontaneous protests that took place in New York City on June 26, 1969. At that time, homosexuality was heavily stigmatized, and LGBTQ+ individuals faced widespread discrimination, harassment, and persecution. The Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Greenwich Village, became the epicenter of resistance when patrons fought back against a police raid, sparking days of protests and a turning point in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. While accounts vary, it is believed that the resistance began when transgender women of color, such as Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, fought against the police and encouraged others to resist arrest. The crowd outside the bar grew in numbers, and the situation escalated into a full-blown uprising. The protests lasted for several days.
The uprising at Stonewall galvanized and organized the LGBTQ+ community, prompting the formation of advocacy groups such as the Gay Liberation Front and the establishment of LGBTQ+ centers across the United States. In 1970, to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the first Pride parades took place in several cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These parades served as acts of defiance, providing a visible platform for LGBTQ+ individuals to assert their identity and demand equal rights. Over time, Pride celebrations expanded globally, becoming vibrant demonstrations of queer visibility, resilience, and solidarity.
In the 1980s, queer organizations became one of the only resources available to LGBTQ+ Americans as HIV/AIDS spread and took its toll on the community. Since the outbreak was largely ignored by the government (and in some cases, government actors praised the effect of HIV/AIDS for killing hundreds of thousands of queer people), organizations like the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) in New York City and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation provided vital services such as counseling, medical information, support groups, and assistance with basic needs. These organizations were often founded and run by members of the LGBTQ+ community who were directly impacted by the crisis. The AIDS crisis also reignited activism within the gay community. Activist groups such as ACT UP (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) emerged, demanding greater attention, research funding, and access to treatments. ACT UP staged protests, engaged in civil disobedience, and utilized direct-action tactics to bring attention to the urgent needs of people living with HIV/AIDS.
One essential service that these organizations provided that is often overlooked was giving victims of HIV/AIDS proper burials. Many families abandoned their children after finding out their child was queer, and refused to hold funeral services for their children who had died from the disease.
Pride Month became largely a time of mourning. Pride events during the AIDS crisis often included memorial services and vigils to remember those who had succumbed to HIV/AIDS. Pride events also shifted their focus to raising money for HIV/AIDS research and funding to provide homeless and underprivileged queer people access to medical services, including testing for the virus and available drug cocktails. The AIDS epidemic would continue to devastate the LGBTQ+ community well into the 1990s.
In 1999, the month of June was officially designated as Pride Month in the United States to honor the Stonewall Uprising and to celebrate the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community. It was also officially recognized by President Bill Clinton, marking a significant shift in American politics toward supporting LGBTQ+ Americans. Support for LGBTQ+ individuals in American culture would continue to rise from this point on, resulting in major legal victories such as the repeal of the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the military and the landmark Supreme Court decision Obergefell Vs. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage around the United States. Queer people have become less and less afraid of illness, death, or assault for living openly, resulting in 7.2 percent of Americans openly identifying as LGBTQ+, a significant jump from 3.5 percent in 2012. But the fight is far from over.
While significant strides have been made in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States, it is crucial to acknowledge that discrimination, inequality, and violence persist in many parts of the country and the world. Republicans have coordinated attacks on queer people (with a focus on trans Americans and especially trans youth), motivating the Human Rights Campaign to declare a “State Of Emergency” for the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans.
Outside of the United States, same-sex sexual activity is still criminalized in more than 70 countries, and is punishable by death in at least 13 of those. Moreover, queer youth continue to experience higher rates of homelessness, mental health challenges, and bullying compared to their heterosexual counterparts.
In the face of adversity, the queer community still continues to make victories. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is the first openly-gay Cabinet member to have been confirmed by the Senate, and enjoys a fair amount of attention alongside husband Chasten—an educator and activist—and their two children. The Walt Disney Company is engaging governor Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, perpetrator of the anti-LGBTQ+ “Parental Rights in Education” bill (also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill) in litigation after Disney sided with LGBTQ+ employees who demanded a statement on the act.
Pride in 2023 serves as a somber reminder that while victories are worth celebrating, the queer community faces constant challenges to their ability to live their lives openly and without fear.
