June is Pride Month, a month dedicated to LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) individuals accomplishments and history. Considering the long and impactful history of LGBTQ+ individuals, we at TeenSource wanted to talk about the importance of this month and its history.

Importance of Pride Month

Pride Month serves as a reminder of equality and acceptance. To do this, the month is dedicated to celebrating identity and community, bringing diverse experiences to light. Pride has been built upon community, whether through fighting for a common cause or finding a place without hate, so community is a fundamental ideal that Pride Month pushes. 

Furthermore, Pride Month advocates for equality through political action. Pride was officially established in 1999 by Bill Clinton as “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month” though the history is much longer.  After many advocates pushed for more, Barack Obama declared June "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month" in 2009. Without advocates, Pride Month would not be where it is today. 

Pride Month is a chance to educate ourselves on LGBTQ+ history, current issues, and diverse experiences within the community. Not only does this month work to educate allies and people who are not a part of the community, but it also brings an understanding and awareness of experiences, making empathetic connections everywhere. 

Why June?

Pride Month is set in June to commemorate the Stonewall Rebellion. In June of 1969, cops raided a popular gay bar named the “Stonewall Inn” in New York City. Often, this bar was a meeting place for many young gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals to gather together. Arresting the employees for selling liquor without a license, the police officers assaulted many of the patrons of the bar. 

Before this moment, many LGBTQ+ individuals were subject to hate violence from other civilians and police so when the crowd of LGBTQ+ community members saw the police harassment, instead of falling into past instances of passivity, they decided to act. Because of past police harassment, the crowd fought back to the point that the cops had to barricade themselves, waiting for back-up, as the crowd amounted to four hundred people. 

The “Stonewall Rebellion” was the primary catalyst for the LGBTQ+ movement in the United States. Although there were other acts of rebellion of LGBTQ+ individuals, such as the Homophile Movement and the Pepper Hill Club Raid, Stonewall captured the attention of those in the United States to fight for change and rights actively. 

Stonewall directly contributed to many pieces of legislation in the United States for gay rights, such as in Lawrence v. Texas (2003), which decriminalized same-sex intimacy, and Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which gave all Americans the right to same-sex marriage. 

What can you do as part of Pride Month?

Pride encourages inclusivity and advocacy year-round, but this month especially allows for you to get involved in the LGBTQ+ community, no matter if you are gay, bisexual, transgender, an ally, etc. Listed below are ways that you can get involved. 

• Volunteer/Donate to LGBTQ+ Organizations

Many organizations fight for LGBTQ+ rights and health. For example, the Trevor Project is an organization that focuses on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ individuals. The LA LGBT Center provides shelter for LGBTQ+ people and promotes services and global advocacy. 

•  Attend Pride Events

In many major cities, or even small communities, events such as marches, parades, and festivals celebrate Pride Month and LGBTQ+. Attending an event would mean forming a stronger bond with others in the community and finding solidarity to push for LGBTQ+ advocacy. Furthermore, even if you are strictly an ally of the community, showing your support brings more acceptance and inclusivity within the space. 

• Educating Yourself

To be able to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, you also have to understand the community and its past struggles as well as its culture. Whether talking to a family member or friend who is LGBTQ+, researching online, or watching social media videos, you learn more and more about LGBTQ+ rights and culture. Furthermore, you could also learn more about the culture by immersing yourself in art galleries, listening to music, and watching movies made by LGBTQ+ artists. 

Pride Month is extremely special to celebrate as it recognizes history and creates a bright and progressive future.