From Stonewall to Today: Why We Celebrate Pride in June

June is more than simply the start of summer; it's a kaleidoscope of joy, togetherness, and festivity. It's also Pride Month! But have you ever wondered why we celebrate Pride in June?

The Stonewall Riots of 1969

On the night of June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City, catalysed a movement that would change modern history.

Back then, it was sadly a frequent occurrence for the police to raid gay bars. However, this raid would be different from all the rest. 

The patrons of the Stonewall Inn and the surrounding area chose to resist oppression by remaining put rather than fleeing into the night. And honestly, can you really blame them? That night, just like countless others, they witnessed their friends, bar employees, and fellow bargoers being taken away by the police for simply being themselves in public.

But tensions rose when a cop struck Stormé DeLarverie on the head with his baton as the ejected customers gathered outside to demonstrate. She was having none of it and yelled to the crowd, "Why don't you guys do something?"

At that rallying cry, the light of resistance switched on, and the gathering crowd began to openly ridicule, resist, and throw rocks, bricks, bottles, and garbage at the police. Taken aback by this unheard-of resistance, the officers quickly requested additional support and sought shelter inside the bar as a large crowd of approximately 400 individuals descended into riot.

The fighting and protests with law enforcement continued on and off for several days. The Stonewall Uprising, as it became known, would widely be regarded as the turning point in the modern LGBTQ+ movement, a beacon of inspiration for generations to come.

The First Pride March

After the Stonewall Uprising, the LGBTQ+ community sought to commemorate this act of defiance and assert their visibility to the public. This led to the inception of the first pride march, a significant event in the history of LGBTQ+ activism.

So, on June 28, 1970, exactly one year after the riots, New York City saw the first Pride March, also known as the Christopher Street Liberation Day March.

However, this demonstration was not just another march. It was a monumental moment in history, a game-changer. It marked the first instance in our shared memory when people of all sexual orientations came together in a public outcry for equal rights.

From its starting point on Christopher Street, the location of the Stonewall Inn, the march witnessed an astonishing participation of thousands, a scale that far surpassed all initial expectations, leaving the world in awe of the LGBTQ+ community's strength and unity.

On the same day as the march in New York City, a lively "Christopher Street West" party was held on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, which drew an enthusiastic crowd. Further, marches took place in San Francisco and Chicago that year, but the NYC march was the largest.

The planning for the 1971 march was initiated in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and soon, other cities, states, and even countries were inspired to establish their own annual Pride traditions, a testament to the global reach and impact of the movement.

The Evolution of Pride

Following the first pride march, the next few years saw a week of events to remember the Stonewall Riots and push for LGBTQ+ rights. Fast forward to the late '80s and '90s, and these celebrations grew. What started as a week became a month-long celebration, bringing more recognition and unity within the community and among allies.

In 1999, June was officially designated as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month by then-President Bill Clinton. Frankly, it isn't easy to fully convey the magnitude of this action. 

This official approval had far-reaching effects that extended beyond the mere act of naming a month. The declaration recognised the rights, concerns, and impressive accomplishments of the LGBTQ+ community while also paying tribute to their advancement.

Today, Pride Month is so much more than a mere celebration. It is a dramatic, energetic, and colourful memorial to the people who fought for change and an anthem to all that we have accomplished. 

So, this June, and every June afterwards, let us raise our flags and voices until we create a world where everyone is free to love and be loved.

Happy Pride Month!