Pride Month Explained

Type:Cultural
Holiday Name:LGBT Pride Month
Month:June
Frequency:Annual
Observances:Celebration of LGBT pride, rights, and culture
Duration:1 month

Pride Month, sometimes specified as LGBT Pride Month, is a monthlong observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBT pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) 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

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

Following the Stonewall riots and the first pride marches, the number of LGBT groups rapidly increased,[8] and the pride movement spread across the United States after a few years. 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.[9]

Polyamory Pride Day is celebrated every year on a day in Pride Month.[10]

Recognition

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.[11] Barack Obama expanded the official Pride Month recognition in 2011, including the whole of the LGBT community.[12] Donald Trump declined to offer federal recognition of Pride Month in 2017,[13] though he issued supportive public statements in a series of Tweets in 2019.[14] Joe Biden recognized Pride Month after taking office in 2021, and vowed to push for LGBT rights in the United States,[15] despite previously voting against same-sex marriage and school education of LGBT topics in the Senate.[16] Pride Month has since grown into a global celebration of LGBTQ+ culture and identity.[17]

Pride Month is often observed in several LGBT-affirming religious congregations.

International LGBT Pride Day

International LGBT Pride Day is a day dedicated to LGBT pride, held on June 28 to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall riots,[18] 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.[19]

Serbian group Arkadija commemorated International Pride Day in 1991 with a forum concerning queer activism and art at Belgrade Youth Center.[20] Nicaragua's first public pride festival was also held on this day 1991 to commemorate the Stonewall Riots.[21] [22] 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.[23]

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.[24]

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.[25]

Months of the year

New Zealand

Pride month is celebrated at different times throughout New Zealand.[26] In Auckland, it is celebrated in February,[27] and in Christchurch and Wellington Pride Month is in March.

Canada

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

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wurzburger . Andrea . June 1, 2022 . Pride Month Explained: What Is Pride Month and Why Do We Celebrate? . 2022-10-25 . . en . October 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025033644/https://people.com/human-interest/pride-month-explained-pride-month-facts/ . live .
  2. Web site: Miranda . Gabriela . June 3, 2021 . What are the origins of Pride Month? And who should we thank for the LGBTQ celebration? . 2022-10-25 . . . en-US . October 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025015604/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2021/06/03/what-pride-month-means-look-history-lgbtq-celebration/7504029002/ . live .
  3. Web site: Stanton . Cady . June 2, 2022 . What is the history behind Pride Month? How the LGBTQ celebration came to be . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220602092124/https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/06/02/pride-month-history-lgbtq-celebrations-june/9626504002/ . 2022-06-02 . 2022-10-25 . . . en-GB.
  4. Web site: Sommerlad . Joe . July 2, 2022 . Pride 2022: How was the annual LGBT+ celebration founded and when and where are events taking place? . registration . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221004182825/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/pride-events-london-2022-route-history-b2114295.html . 2022-10-04 . 2022-10-25 . . en.
  5. Web site: Lopez . German . June 8, 2014 . LGBTQ Pride Month, explained . 2022-10-25 . . . en . October 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025025443/https://www.vox.com/2014/6/8/5786368/lgbt-gay-pride-month-2019 . live .
  6. Web site: Oliver . David . Ali . Rasha . June 28, 2019 . Why we owe Pride to black transgender women who threw bricks at cops . 2022-10-25 . . . en-US . October 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025015559/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2019/06/24/pride-month-black-transgender-women-stonewall-marsha-p-johnson/1478200001/ . live .
  7. Web site: Abad-Santos . Alex . June 25, 2018 . How LGBTQ Pride Month became a branded holiday . 2022-10-25 . . . en . October 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025025442/https://www.vox.com/2018/6/25/17476850/pride-month-lgbtq-corporate-explained . live .
  8. Book: Carter, David . Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked the Gay Revolution . May 25, 2010 . . 978-0-312-67193-8 . en . 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.'.
  9. Web site: Baume . Matt . Matt Baume . June 25, 2020 . What Is Pride Month and the History of Pride? . 2022-10-26 . . . October 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221026144314/https://www.them.us/story/the-complete-history-of-pride . live .
  10. Web site: Polyamory Day - Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association. December 26, 2020. January 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122225910/http://polyadvocacy.ca/polyamory-day-faq/. live.
  11. Web site: Clinton . William J. . June 11, 1999 . Proclamation 7203—Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, 1999 . live . March 12, 2019 . The American Presidency Project . en . February 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190222103537/https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-7203-gay-and-lesbian-pride-month-1999 .
  12. Web site: Cho . Diane J. . June 1, 2022 . Notable Figures & Moments in Pride Month History to Honor This Week, from Gilbert Baker to Alan Turing . 2022-10-25 . . en . October 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025033650/https://people.com/human-interest/pride-month-history-facts-june-1-to-7/ . live .
  13. News: Bump . Philip . June 27, 2017 . Last year, June was National Pride Month. This year, it isn't. . . . limited . 2022-10-25 . August 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210816002026/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/06/27/last-year-june-was-national-pride-month-this-year-it-isnt/ . live .
  14. Web site: Evon . Dan . June 1, 2021 . Did Trump Officially Recognize Pride Month During His Presidency? . 2022-10-25 . . en-US . August 17, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220817022051/https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-pride-month/ . live .
  15. News: Karni . Annie . June 1, 2021 . Biden Recognizes Pride Month, Vowing to Fight for L.G.B.T.Q. Rights . en-US . . live . subscription . 2022-10-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602031322/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/01/us/politics/biden-pride-lgbtq.html . 2021-06-02 . 0362-4331.
  16. News: Nagourney . Adam . Kaplan . Thomas . June 21, 2020 . Behind Joe Biden's Evolution on L.G.B.T.Q. Rights . en-US . . live . subscription . 2022-10-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210601215617/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/21/us/politics/biden-gay-rights-lgbt.html . 2021-06-01 . 0362-4331.
  17. Web site: How LGBTQ+ Pride Went Global . 2024-07-19 . www.cfr.org . en.
  18. Web site: International LGBT+ Pride Day – UNESCO Chair on Education for Social Justice . 2024-03-19 . en-GB.
  19. Web site: 2008-07-16 . KQED LGBT Pride: SF Historical Timeline . 2024-03-19 . web.archive.org.
  20. Web site: admin . 2013-02-22 . LGBT aktivizam u Srbiji . 2024-03-19 . LGBTI.ba . bs-BA.
  21. Web site: 2007-08-14 . glbtq >> social sciences >> Nicaragua . 2024-03-19 . web.archive.org.
  22. Web site: Revista Envío - NICARAGUA BRIEFS . 2024-03-19 . www.revistaenvio.org.
  23. Web site: Gay Straight Alliance GSA International Pride Day marked by the action 'Hate-Free Zone' . 2024-03-19.
  24. Web site: Daisley . Stephen . June 3, 2022 . When will companies end their embarrassing Pride hypocrisy? . 2022-10-25 . . . en-GB . October 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025050628/https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/when-will-companies-end-their-embarrassing-pride-hypocrisy- . live .
  25. Web site: June 3, 2022 . Religious beliefs and views of homosexuality . 2024-01-11 . . Pew Research Center. . en-GB . April 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230422070350/www.pewresearch.org/politics/2013/06/06/section-3-religious-belief-and-views-of-homosexuality/ . live .
  26. Web site: Gill . Sinead . 23 March 2022 . 'People are proud throughout the year': When is New Zealand's real Pride month? . 21 March 2024 . Stuff.
  27. Web site: 2024-02-01 . What’s on: A guide to Pride 2024, from collaborative crafts to unmissable events . 2024-03-20 . NZ Herald . en-NZ.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Pride Month".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.