Pride Month is celebrated each June to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. Pride Month commemorate years of struggle for civil rights and the ongoing work to achieve equal justice under the law for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community.
It is celebrated each year in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which was the tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In June of 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City staged an uprising to resist the police harassment and persecution to which LGBTQ Americans were commonly subjected to. The Stonewall Uprising marked the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ+ Americans.
Read More About the Stonewall Uprising HERE
Bill Clinton was the first U.S. President to officially recognize Pride Month in 1999 and 2000. Then, from 2009 to 2016, Barack Obama declared June LGBTQ Pride Month. In 2021, Joe Biden issued a presidential proclamation officially recognizing Pride Month and vowing to fight for LGBTQ rights.
Today, Pride Month celebrations include uplifting parades with floats and celebrities, joyous festivals, workshops, picnics, and parties. These events attract millions of participants from around the world and focus on not just celebrating and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community, but also educating people on how to support and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and laws to make the country a safer and better place.
We are proud to see such great progress since Stonewall, but there is still much to be done. Today, the LGBTQ+ community is still fighting for fundamental rights and dignity in hospitals, schools, public accommodations, and other spaces. Our collective freedoms are intricately linked, so when one group’s dignity and equality are threatened, we all suffer. Let’s remain committed to the fight ahead and continue to take every action to build an affirming and inclusive society for all.
More Information:
Pride Month Events in Los Angeles
CNN Provides 20 Books that are Essential Reading this Pride Month
CBS Shares LGBTQ+ Owned Brands to Support
Partners Is proud to be a LGBTQ friendly organization! We support the civil rights of all individuals and oppose all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Happy Pride Month
