What is Pride Month?
Pride Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, promote equality and acceptance, and importantly, honor the community’s long and ongoing history of struggle and resilience.
Pride is held in June to commemorate the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a series of protests led by members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to the New York police raiding the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. This was a critical moment in the gay rights movement, when people fought against discrimination.
In today’s world, Pride is still very much a protest. The LGBTQ+ community continues to face legislative attacks, hate crimes, and efforts to erase their rights and identities. The number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills advancing in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, with the ACLU currently tracking 575 bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Pride Month is a powerful reminder that the fight is far from over. The spirit of resistance that sparked the Stonewall Riots lives on today, as the community and its allies continue to stand up against injustice and fight for civil liberties.
It is important to recognize both the joy of how far the LGBTQ+ community has come and the struggle endured to get there.
Generating Awareness and Education
Pride is an acknowledgment of the continued discrimination and inequality faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. Though it may not always be visible, members of the LGBTQ+ community face scrutiny and discrimination every day. Demeaning comments from the general public and constant barriers to equal rights can be taxing on mental health, and even traumatic.
Pride Month is a continuation of what the Stonewall Riots started – speaking out against discrimination. It is an opportunity to promote awareness and educate the public on current struggles and upcoming initiatives.
Supporting Mental Health
It comes as no surprise that members of the LGBTQ+ community have higher odds of depression, anxiety or suicidality compared to the general population. Pride is also a reminder to LGBTQ+ individuals that they are not alone and that there is a supportive community behind them.
That is why allyship is so important in schools, workplaces, and broader communities throughout the year, not just during Pride Month. Being surrounded by allies who support, value, and accept one’s identity journey allows LGBTQ+ individuals to flourish and navigate the path toward self-acceptance.
A Celebration
Despite the ongoing challenges and negativity facing the LGBTQ+ community, Pride is also a celebration. It is a time to honor the courage, resilience, and authenticity of LGBTQ+ individuals who live their truth every day. Pride celebrates the beautiful diversity of humanity – recognizing that our differences in identity, expression and love make our communities richer and stronger.
From parades filled with joy and music to quiet moments of self-acceptance, Pride reminds us that there is power in visibility, strength in community and beauty in being authentically ourselves. Remember: love, in all its forms, is worth celebrating.