Everything we need to know about Pride Month

Why are we here today? Whether you’re reading this because you are curious about LGBTQ pride month, or maybe you’re struggling with your own identity. Every one of us has felt this terrible feeling of loneliness and rejection; however, that feeling doesn’t last for a long time. While, on the other hand, gays, lesbians, bisexuals are being harassed and get bullied every day somewhere in the world, so many of them have tried taking their lives.

Whatever may be the reason for you to be here today, I encourage you to read this article with open heart and soul. Let’s Stay true to ourselves and support whoever needs help. 

Well, Pride stands for PERSONAL RIGHTS IN DEFENCE AND EDUCATION; in simpler words, it promotes respect, impartiality, dignity for everyone. In the days of yore, they were known as gay political groups /organizations like Gay Liberation Front (GLF), Radical Faeries and the Act Up. Certainly, Pride was one of them established in 1966 in Los Angeles. The founder was 27 years old, gay activist Steve Ginsburg a bold gentleman, who clearly stated that this organization wouldn’t hold back and promise to bring real change in LGBTQ lives.

This organization aimed to end discrimination with loud demonstrations and political actions. Furthermore, they eventually started a monthly single-page newsletter named The Advocate under the guidance of Richard Mitch and became the first national gay publication, and it is still in operation today.

The history behind Pride Month? The Stonewall Riots

It was 1969; there were many gay bars to support the gay community and for individuals looking for a safe place to open up and be themselves, but the law enforcement agencies also targeted these bars.

On June 28, police officers trolled the bars and entered the Stonewall inn; the bar was found to be selling alcohol illegally without licensee and arrested the bar employee and anyone who wasn’t wearing gender-appropriate clothes. 

After the bar was cleaned, the patrons didn’t hesitate to fight back; they were anguished and set fires all over the places; an insane riot began.

The crowd grew larger as more people joined the protest. The riots then turned into a mass demonstration, which led to the formation of various gay rights groups. Later, organizations such as the GLAAD, Gay Liberation Front, Human Rights Campaign, Gay activist alliance and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) were formed. 

In the early days, LGBTQ “Gay pride day” was celebrated last Sunday in June, but later with time, across the nation, the day grew into a month-long series of celebrations followed by March, picnics, parties and gatherings. All the supporters and LGBTQ themselves come together and honor the struggles that the gay community has faced, who came before and fought for equality throughout history. 

Pride Month is celebrated proudly every year in June (starting June 1 and ends on June 30) worldwide to pay public respect for the LGBTQ community. June month is all about love, acceptance, equality and togetherness. 

The first Pride march was organized by queer activist Brenda Howard on June 28, 1970, in New York City. After one year of the stonewall uprising, she was later considered “Mother of Pride” for her outstanding service to the LGBTQ community. 

The people and the law highly opposed early Pride month events; however, they gained popularity and attendance with time. Regardless, it is still not free from discrimination and oppositions. However, with the growing popularity and supporters, the Stonewall Inn was designated as a national monument.

LGBTQ, Pride Month and the Rainbow Flag

I am sure that you must have seen these beautiful rainbow flags in the hands of the people during the Pride march with the universal proclamation that “love is love” and “love wins.” But, do you know how the rainbow flag became an LGBTQ symbol? And who designed it?

It was created in 1978 by a Vietnam War veteran who was an artist and a designer, Gilbert Baker. In 2015 during an interview in a Museum for Modern Art, he said, “he got the inspiration from the celebrations marking America’s bicentennial in 1976, the display of stars and stripes made him realize the gay community needed a rallying sign. At the time, the pink triangle symbol was used by the Nazis to identify homosexuals, but Baker didn’t want to use such a painful past as a symbol, so he decided to take the rainbow as inspiration.

Gilbert Baker, designer of the flag

The different colors in the flag represented lives, togetherness and love; the original flag has eight colors. The first, on the top, was hot pink, which defined sex, second Red for life, third Orange for healing, fourth yellow for signifying sunlight, fifth Green for nature, sixth turquoise for art, seventh indigo for harmony and finally the eighth Violet at the bottom for the spirit.

However, the flag was redesigned several times and restored based on the availability of fabrics. Later, Baker died at the age of 65 on March 31, 2017, two years after the same-sex-marriage was legally accepted in all over the cities. At the same time, his legacy lives on in the LGBTQ six-colored flag and is proudly used in every Gay pride month. The six colors represent Red for love, Orange for respect, yellow for freedom, Green for tolerance, Blue for equality and purple for Pride.

Support LGBTQ and celebrate Pride month.

I am glad that together we came so far, now people have started supporting the LGBTQ community, which is the right thing to do. In this generation, we need to understand stereotypes are not essential in moving forward but what is important is love and acceptance. 

The courage and bravery LGBTQ possess is tremendous; they’ve faced humiliation, mental stress from the moment they tried to accept themselves. But the question is, are we kind enough? Brave enough to show compassion and accept them? What are we afraid of?

However, I’m grateful to the people who’ve accepted them as a human and treat them right. So, many renowned presidents, Podcaster and celebrities like Jonathan Van Ness, Tommy Pico, Fran Tirado, Dennis Norris II, and Joe Osmundson. And for example, Miley Cyrus created the Happy Hippie Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering LGBT youth, which collaborated with Instagram to launch the #InstaPride initiative to help share LGBTQ stories. As well as Ellen Page, Kerry Washington, Anne Hathaway, Daniel Radcliffe, Matthew Morrison, Brad Pitt, Lady Gaga, Ellen DeGeneres and many more. 

How to support the LGBTQ community

• Donate money or invest some of your time helping LGBTQ organizations
• Our cities, towns, and many people’s’ lives run from small local businesses. Support LGBTQ businesses.
• Educate yourself and learn how to cooperate and support them.
• Seek help from the GSA of your community or city.
• Share about LGBTQ rights and community among your friends and families as much as you can.
• If that someone is a family member, Keep supporting them, don’t question their sexuality and identity.
• Attend social events and celebrations related to LGBTQ.
• Speak out loud against homophobia and discrimination related to gay communities.

Pride Month celebration has brought many changes in people’s lives; many people who were afraid to show up their feelings and identity now are proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community.