Pride Month: Honoring the Past, Confronting the Present
Every June, communities come together to celebrate Pride Month as a time to honor the LGBTQ+ community, its history, struggles, and contributions. But beyond the rainbow flags and parades lies a deeper story of resistance, resilience, and ongoing inequality that still needs our attention.
A Deeper Look at the History of Pride
To understand the significance of Pride Month, we must begin with a time when simply existing as LGBTQ+ was criminalized. In the mid-20th century, LGBTQ+ people in the United States (and many parts of the world) faced systemic discrimination; being barred from jobs, arrested for public displays of affection, and subjected to harassment by both civilians and law enforcement.
The Stonewall Uprising: A Catalyst for Change
The modern LGBTQ+ rights movement gained international attention following the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969. The Stonewall Inn, located in New York City's Greenwich Village, was one of the few spaces where LGBTQ+ people (especially drag queens, transgender women, and homeless LGBTQ+ youth) could gather with some sense of community, even though it operated under constant threat of police raids.
On the night of June 28, 1969, police once again raided the bar. But that night, the patrons pushed back. What followed was six days of protests and resistance that reverberated across the city and, eventually, the world. The uprising wasn’t led by mainstream figures but was driven by the courage of those most marginalized, including Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman, and Sylvia Rivera, a Latinx trans activist.
Pride is Born
On June 28, 1970 (the one-year anniversary of Stonewall), thousands marched from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park in what was then called Christopher Street Liberation Day. It was the first Pride march, and it set the tone for what would become a global tradition of protest and celebration. Similar marches took place that same weekend in Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
These early Pride events were defiant, grassroots responses to decades of oppression. They were not corporate-sponsored or family-friendly; they were raw, political, and urgent. Pride has since grown and diversified, but at its core, it remains a platform for visibility, advocacy, and remembrance.
Milestones Along the Way
Pride Month today stands on the shoulders of decades of activism and perseverance:
1950: The Mattachine Society, one of the first gay rights organizations in the U.S., is founded.
1955: The Daughters of Bilitis, the first lesbian civil and political rights organization, begins in San Francisco.
1980s: The HIV/AIDS crisis devastates LGBTQ+ communities. Groups like ACT UP and GMHC emerge to protest government inaction and advocate for care and research.
2003: The U.S. Supreme Court overturns sodomy laws in Lawrence v. Texas, effectively decriminalizing same-sex relationships.
2015: Same-sex marriage is legalized nationwide in Obergefell v. Hodges.
2020: The Court rules in Bostock v. Clayton County that LGBTQ+ employees are protected from workplace discrimination under federal law.
While these victories mark progress, they also highlight the long and ongoing journey toward full equality.
Intersectionality: Understanding the Layers of Identity
The LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith. While Pride often presents a unified front, individuals within the community experience discrimination differently based on the intersections of their identities, such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, disability, and immigration status.
According to a 2023 Gallup report, 7.2% of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+, but that number rises to over 20% among Gen Z.
A 2022 Williams Institute study found that 29% of Black LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. live in poverty, compared to 16% of white LGBTQ+ adults and 12% of the general population.
Transgender people of color, particularly Black and Latinx trans women, face disproportionately high rates of violence, homelessness, and job discrimination.
Understanding intersectionality is essential to understanding how overlapping forms of discrimination affect people’s lives. Pride Month must be inclusive not only in its celebration, but also in its activism.
Pride Today: A Celebration and a Call to Action
In many ways, Pride has become more visible and accepted. Rainbow logos and corporate sponsorships are now common sights in June. But this increased visibility hasn’t eliminated the challenges:
In the U.S., hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in recent years, many targeting transgender youth and LGBTQ+ education in schools.
Hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity are still a serious concern in many countries.
In over 60 countries, same-sex relationships remain criminalized—and in several, they are punishable by death.
This is why Pride is still political. It is not only a celebration of identity; it is a protest, a memorial, and a demand for change. It honors those we’ve lost, uplifts those still fighting, and envisions a future where LGBTQ+ people everywhere can live safely, openly, and with dignity.
How You Can Support This Pride Month and Beyond
Listen and Learn: Read LGBTQ+ authors, follow activists on social media, and attend events with the intent to understand.
Speak Up: Call out homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of bias in your personal and professional life.
Support LGBTQ+ Organizations: Contribute to groups doing critical advocacy, especially those focused on trans rights, youth, and communities of color.
Vote and Advocate: Engage in local and national elections, support inclusive policies, and push for legislative change.
Celebrate Thoughtfully: Recognize that Pride’s roots are in protest, and honor that history with respect, visibility, and action.
Final Thoughts:
Pride Month is more than a party. It’s a living legacy of protest, progress, and promise. It calls on us to reflect on the past, confront present injustices, and imagine a more equitable future. Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or as an ally, this month is a powerful opportunity to recommit to the work of equality, for everyone, at every intersection. Let’s not only wave the flag; let’s live its values, every day of the year.
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