A Brief History of Pride
The LGBTQ+ pride month is an annual celebration aimed at promoting the equality, dignity, visibility, and self-affirmation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) people. The concept came into light in the 1960s, and since then, it’s been a prominent event among the LGBTQ+ community.
Let’s discuss how the concept of Pride emerged and how Pride month is celebrated worldwide.
The History of Pride
The 1950s and 1960s were a repressive period for LGBT+ people, both legally and socially. They didn’t receive basic civil rights protection and were frequently attacked and insulted.
On July 4, 1965, The Mattachine Society and the Daughters of Bilitis – two of the earliest homophile organizations in the US – carried out a protest against the repression of LGBT+ people. Soon, this became an annual event and was called “Annual Reminders.”
On June 28, 1969, the first pride march was held in New York City to make the Annual Reminder reach more people. The march began from a gay bar at Christopher Street in Manhattan, and the day was named Christopher Street Liberation Day.
A few days prior to Pride, there was a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar on Christopher Street. Following the raid, LGBT+ people conducted riots and protests, which turned out to be a landmark event in the LGBT+ rights movement. The LGBT+ Pride month occurs in June to commemorate the Stonewall riots.
Pride Month Celebrations and Events
In the US, pride month features myriad events from large parades to workshops, concerts, and parties. However, the key feature is large city parades. However, with the pandemic in hindsight, most Pride events have gone virtual.
Some Pride Month events to be held in June 2021 are:
- Virtual events, workshops, and talks from Boston Pride
- A global “virtual Trans March”
- A virtual pride parade in Los Angeles to be broadcast on local channels
- A two-day online celebration and rally organized by San Francisco Pride, including performances, speeches, and thought-leadership workshops
- Month-long virtual events organized by the Seattle Pride
LGBT+ Pride Month vs. LGBT+ History Month
LGBT+ History Month is another prominent event for the LGBT+ community, but many people confuse it with LGBT+ Pride Month.
Pride Month occurs in June, with the focus on increasing awareness, celebrating LGBT+ rights, and conducting educational workshops. On the other hand, History Month aims at providing role models and making civil rights statements about national and international contributions.
Pride Parades in Different Countries
Though Pride Month originated in the US, various countries across the world celebrate it. Almost all countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Australia, and Oceania have embraced Pride parades. In the majority of Asian countries and some African countries, Pride parades either don’t occur or face opposition. In the Middle East and various African countries, homosexuality is outlawed.
Final Thoughts
The LGBT+ Pride Month is a prominent event for the LGBT+ community. It commemorates the Stonewall riots, a watershed event in the LGBT+ rights movement. Various LGBT+ people and communities worldwide organize parades to increase awareness and celebrate their rights.
