Pride Month
Pride Month is celebrated every year in June. To honor and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, many cities throw pride parades and other events full of performers and other types of entertainment. Because LGBTQ+ communities have faced persecution and challenges against equality, celebrating a Happy Pride Month is about recognizing accomplishments within the community and still calling for more activism and recognition.
History of Gay Pride
LGBTQ+ Pride Month is in June because it commemorates the June 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City. As part of the Stonewall Riots, the LGBTQ+ community in New York City called for more rights and liberation from unfair policing at lesbian and gay bars throughout the community. Though the riots started in New York, they sparked the gay liberation movement nationwide that called for the end to oppression against all LGBTQ+ people.
Gay Pride Month was officially recognized in 1999 by President Bill Clinton. Though it initially was called Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, it’s since grown to include recognition for the entire LGBTQ+ community. Today, Pride Month also includes and recognizes bisexusal, queer, intersex, asexual, and transgender pride.
When is Pride Month?
Pride Month is celebrated throughout the entire month of June. Most cities hold pride parades toward the end of June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots. Around the same time as the parades, there may be more events and programming within a Pride Week celebration.
Celebrating Pride
Members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies can celebrate Pride Month by attending city and community events. Many neighborhoods host a Gay Pride Parade that might include performers and floats. Since each city is different, you can mark events on a Pride Month calendar to keep track of what’s going on throughout the month. Throughout the month, many people celebrating hold the rainbow gay pride flag or wear merch and clothing that represent the flag. There’s also a blue, pink, and white transgender pride flag that many people will also hold or wear to celebrate acceptance.
At parades and events, attendees can also make their own signs or vinyl banners to hold up and show their pride and celebration. To show your support or celebrate Pride Month with loved ones, you can send greeting cards that wish a Happy Pride Month. Include Pride quotes or write your own messages about love and acceptance. Pride Month is all about celebrating each other and continuing to fight for equality for all.
