Global Destinations That Have Shaped Pride and LGBTQ+ History
Authored by Priya Pradhan
Pride month commemorates the pivotal Stonewall Uprising of 1969 that paved the way towards progress, change and more acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. The Manhattan-based uprising consisted of a series of powerful demonstrations against the anti-gay U.S. legal system. Instigated by a police raid of the Stonewall Inn, a prominent gay bar in the West Village, as well as years of discrimination, this historical event was critical to the LGBTQ+ liberation movement.
June is typically a month of Pride celebrations, which help raise awareness about the issues faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. While this summer we will not be seeing the usual Pride parades livening up cities across the world, we’ve collected snapshots from a few of the many locations that have played a part in shaping the narrative of the community.
From the world’s very first gay village in Germany to the Stonewall Inn itself, check out these notable destinations!
The Castro, San Francisco, California
Once an economically depressed neighborhood, San Francisco’s Castro district has since transformed into a lively, bustling community. From the Castro Theatre to the GLBT Historical Society Museum, this neighborhood is known for promoting LGBTQ+ businesses and culture, and is a prominent tourist destination that draws people from all walks of life.
Melbourne Parliament, Melbourne, Australia
December 7, 2017, marked the long-awaited legalization of same-sex marriage across Australia, heralded by a countrywide referendum where a majority of 61.6 percent voted in favor. Because of the successful YES postal vote, the Melbourne Parliament was where many same-sex couples in the country were able to first get married.
Avenida Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
Home to the headquarters of several of São Paulo’s financial and cultural institutions, Avenida Paulista symbolizes the center of economic and political power in the city. The 2.8 km long avenue is also the starting point of the São Paulo’s Pride Parade — which is the largest of its kind in South America. Starting as a small political protest in 1997, the parade now boasts millions of annual attendees and was also the setting for a celebrated coming out scene in the popular TV series Sense8.
Nollendorfplatz, Berlin, Germany
Nollendorfplatz, located within the Schöneberg neighborhood, has been the hub for gay life in Berlin from as far back as 1920, when the city was labeled “the Gay Capital of Europe.” This neighborhood was also the world’s first gay village, where queer businesses and artistic expression flourished beginning in the early 20th century.
Though severely damaged during World War II, Nollendorfplatz now consists of the rebuilt U-Bahn viaduct as well as the facade of the Neues Schauspielhaus theater.
Greenwich Village, New York City, New York
Home to the famed Stonewall Inn (as mentioned above), Greenwich Village was and continues to be a cultural and historical center for the LGBTQ+ community in New York City. It was here that Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, both trandsgender activists who were founding members of the Gay Liberation Front, advocated for the homeless LGBTQ+ youth and those affected by HIV/AIDS.
From the 1969 Stonewall riots that catalyzed Pride parades around the world to the 2015 festivities following the U.S. Supreme Court’s affirmation of same-sex marriage, this village has been a location for LGBTQ+ people and their allies to raise their voices against injustice, celebrate victories and remember the past.
