Pride Month
Monthlong observance celebrating LGBTQ culture

LGBTQ Pride Month
A 2018 pride parade in San Francisco, California
TypeCultural
ObservancesCelebration of LGBTQ pride, rights, and culture
FrequencyAnnual

Pride Month, sometimes specified as LGBTQ Pride Month, is a monthlong observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer(LGBTQ) culture and community.[1] Pride Month is observed in June in the United States, coinciding with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests.[2]

History

Origins

A 1970s gay liberation protest in Washington, D.C.

The first pride marches were held in four US cities in June 1970, one year after the riots at the Stonewall Inn.[3] The New York City march, promoted as "Christopher Street Liberation Day", alongside the parallel marches in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, marked a watershed moment for LGBT rights.[4] An organizer of some of the first marches, Fred Sargeant stated the goal was to commemorate the Stonewall riots and further push for liberation. He noted that while the first marches were more akin to a protest than a celebration, it helped to remind people of LGBT communities and how they may include one's family and friends.[5] Transgender women and people of color, including Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Stormé DeLarverie, were largely excluded or silenced during the early marches, despite their prominent participation in the initial riots.[6][7]

Spread and celebration

Rural communities such as Pine City, Minnesota are increasingly celebrating Pride Month.[8][9]

Following the Stonewall riots and the first pride marches, the number of LGBT groups rapidly increased,[10] and the pride movement spread across the United States after a few years.[5] While many Pride celebrations around the world are held in June, some cities vary the observation at different times, partially due to local weather conditions.[11]

Polyamory Pride Day is celebrated every year on a day in Pride Month.[12]

Recognition

New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority recognizes Pride Month annually

As June became recognized as Pride Month in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising.  President Bill Clinton officially declared in a presidential proclamation, June "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month" in 1999.[13] Barack Obama expanded the official Pride Month recognition in 2011, including the whole of the LGBT community.[13][14] Donald Trump declined to offer federal recognition of Pride Month in 2017,[15] though he issued supportive public statements in a series of Tweets in 2019.[16] Joe Biden recognized Pride Month after taking office in 2021, and vowed to push for LGBT rights in the United States,[17] despite previously voting against same-sex marriage and school education of LGBT topics in the Senate.[18] Pride Month has since grown into a global celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and identity.[19]

Pride Month is often observed in several LGBT-affirming religious congregations.[citation needed]

International LGBT Pride Day

Five images showing gay pride parades.
2019 Pride celebrations in Spain, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and Israel

International LGBT Pride Day is a day dedicated to LGBT pride, held on June 28 to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall riots,[20] prior to the entire month becoming associated with LGBT Pride.

The San Francisco Pride march was promoted as the International Lesbian & Gay Freedom Day Parade from 1981 to 1994, likely the origin of an international pride day.[21]

Serbian group Arkadija commemorated International Pride Day in 1991 with a forum concerning queer activism and art at Belgrade Youth Center.[22] Nicaragua's first public pride festival was also held on this day 1991 to commemorate the Stonewall Riots.[23][24] Serbia also marked International Pride Day in between 2013 and 2015 with Hate-Free Zone actions, organized by GSA, Women in Black and other NGOs.[25]

Criticism

Some have criticized how many companies release Pride Month-themed products, likening it to the concept of slacktivism, as the companies are perceived to be using the topic of LGBT rights as a means of profit, without contributing to the movement in a meaningful way.[7] Others have criticized the seemingly hypocritical nature of companies making social media profiles evoke the rainbow pride flag while refusing to alter the profile pictures in areas without broad LGBT acceptance.[26]

Some religious and cultural groups oppose Pride Month on ideological grounds. They view LGBTQ+ identities and relationships as contrary to their beliefs and traditions. These objections often lead to tensions and conflicts during Pride Month.[27]

Months of the year

New Zealand

Pride month is celebrated at different times throughout New Zealand.[28] In Auckland, it is celebrated in February,[29][28] and in Christchurch and Wellington Pride Month is in March.[28]

Canada

In Canada, rather than Pride Month, celebrations are held from June to September in what is known as Pride Season.

See also

References

  1. ^ Wurzburger, Andrea (June 1, 2022). "Pride Month Explained: What Is Pride Month and Why Do We Celebrate?". People. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  2. ^ Miranda, Gabriela (June 3, 2021). "What are the origins of Pride Month? And who should we thank for the LGBTQ celebration?". USA Today. Gannett. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  3. ^ Stanton, Cady (June 2, 2022). "What is the history behind Pride Month? How the LGBTQ celebration came to be". USA Today. Gannett. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  4. ^ Sommerlad, Joe (July 2, 2022). "Pride 2022: How was the annual LGBT+ celebration founded and when and where are events taking place?". The Independent. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Lopez, German (June 8, 2014). "LGBTQ Pride Month, explained". Vox. Vox Media. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  6. ^ Oliver, David; Ali, Rasha (June 28, 2019). "Why we owe Pride to black transgender women who threw bricks at cops". USA Today. Gannett. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Abad-Santos, Alex (June 25, 2018). "How LGBTQ Pride Month became a branded holiday". Vox. Vox Media. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  8. ^ Tribune, Erica Pearson Star. "'A total unicorn': How Pine City, Minn., became a pioneer in rural Pride". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  9. ^ "LGBTQ Rural Pride Campaign". National Center for Lesbian Rights. Archived from the original on June 3, 2024. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  10. ^ Carter, David (May 25, 2010). Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 978-0-312-67193-8. Archived from the original on October 1, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2022. As Frank Kameny stated, 'By the time of Stonewall, we had fifty to sixty gay groups in the country. A year later there was at least fifteen hundred. By two years later, to the extent that a count could be made, it was twenty-five hundred.'
  11. ^ Baume, Matt (June 25, 2020). "What Is Pride Month and the History of Pride?". Them. Condé Nast Publications. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  12. ^ "Polyamory Day - Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association". Archived from the original on January 22, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Clinton, William J. (June 11, 1999). "Proclamation 7203—Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, 1999". The American Presidency Project. Archived from the original on February 22, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  14. ^ Cho, Diane J. (June 1, 2022). "Notable Figures & Moments in Pride Month History to Honor This Week, from Gilbert Baker to Alan Turing". People. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  15. ^ Bump, Philip (June 27, 2017). "Last year, June was National Pride Month. This year, it isn't". The Washington Post. Nash Holdings. Archived from the original on August 16, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  16. ^ Evon, Dan (June 1, 2021). "Did Trump Officially Recognize Pride Month During His Presidency?". Snopes. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  17. ^ Karni, Annie (June 1, 2021). "Biden Recognizes Pride Month, Vowing to Fight for L.G.B.T.Q. Rights". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  18. ^ Nagourney, Adam; Kaplan, Thomas (June 21, 2020). "Behind Joe Biden's Evolution on L.G.B.T.Q. Rights". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  19. ^ "How LGBTQ+ Pride Went Global". www.cfr.org. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  20. ^ "International LGBT+ Pride Day – UNESCO Chair on Education for Social Justice". Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  21. ^ "KQED | LGBT Pride: SF Historical Timeline". July 16, 2008. Archived from the original on July 16, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  22. ^ admin (February 22, 2013). "LGBT aktivizam u Srbiji". LGBTI.ba (in Bosnian). Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  23. ^ "glbtq >> social sciences >> Nicaragua". August 14, 2007. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  24. ^ "Revista Envío - NICARAGUA BRIEFS". www.revistaenvio.org. Archived from the original on October 1, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  25. ^ "Gay Straight Alliance | GSA | International Pride Day marked by the action 'Hate-Free Zone'". Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  26. ^ Daisley, Stephen (June 3, 2022). "When will companies end their embarrassing Pride hypocrisy?". The Spectator. Press Holdings. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  27. ^ "Religious beliefs and views of homosexuality". The Spectator. Pew Research Center. June 3, 2022. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Gill, Sinead (March 23, 2022). "'People are proud throughout the year': When is New Zealand's real Pride month?". Stuff. Archived from the original on October 1, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  29. ^ "What's on: A guide to Pride 2024, from collaborative crafts to unmissable events". NZ Herald. February 1, 2024. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  • Media related to LGBT Pride Month at Wikimedia Commons
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