The History of ‘Pride’!
Happy Pride Month!
Wondering why June is known as the Pride month. Well, history holds the answer to that. Quarantine took up all the celebratory vibes but social media, as always came to the rescue. And helped us to acknowledge the 50th Anniversary of the LGBTQ+ Pride traditions. Yes, it all happened 50 years back.
History of the Rainbow March
In the early hours of New York’s neighbor the Greenwich Village, on June 28, 1969, the Stonewall riots materialized as police raided the Stonewall Inn Bar. This event gave a sense of confidence to those trying to be happy about who they love. Stonewall gave a boost to the LGBTQ+ community. And resulted in a flood of demonstrators coming together, marching that induced great political activism.
So, in 1970, several hundred demonstrators marched along Greenwich Village’s Christopher Street commemorating the Stonewall riots, and the celebrated Pride March came into existence. This gave the community the chance to stand up against centuries of mistreating in different fields, effecting their carriers. And, governments were hostile causing employment and housing discrimination. Also, there was Mafia control of Gay bars and anti-Homosexual laws. Initially in the United States, the last Sunday in June was celebrated as “Gay Pride Day,” but the actual day was flexible. Then major cities came up with an idea of replacing the “day” concept to the “whole month” event.
Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, and concerts. And LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held for the members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.
Bonus
In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (October 11), as well as the first “March on Washington” in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ community during LGBT History Month.
The San Francisco Event
In 1978, the renowned and most popular symbol of Gay Pride has premiered in the San Francisco event: the rainbow flag. Its eight colors represent sexuality symbolized by hot pink, life by red, healing by orange, the Sun by yellow, nature by green, art by blue, harmony by indigo, and spirit by violet. San Francisco’s artist, Gilbert Baker designed this flag which was adopted globally. The following year a six-color flag, which is in common use nowadays, appeared (with red, orange, yellow, green, blue [harmony replaced art as symbolized by blue in the flag], and purple/violet), partially because of the unavailability of some of the fabric colors.
Significance
The Pride month is a vital honoring. The motive is simple, to be proud to be out of the closet, on individual freedom. And of course, the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. Above all, the governments are now perceiving this global issue appropriately. Acceptance among the straight community is so warming. Also, gay-friendly businesses and corporations are emerging. The participants include all- gay and straight. Even the places with rigid opposition to the community gained strength to stand up for it.
Well, we can’t tackle all the world problems in a day. But we can surely stand up for ourselves and celebrate who we are. Because we are important. The focus should be always one’s sanity. And Pride month helped us all to understand love in its real sense, including ourselves. We can start taking small steps individually. Because now it’s time to make the world a better place.
Sources: Library of Congress, Britannica
