Pride Month: What You Should Know.
By Mikayla Crawford, Intern
Every June, the LGBTQ+ community comes together to celebrate Pride Month to commemorate those involved in the Stonewall Riots. A gay club, the Stonewall Inn, was raided in 1969 by police inciting bar patrons, staff, and neighborhood residents to storm Christopher Street. At the time same sex relations were illegal in New York. This event started a movement that was filled with protests and clashes for the following six days. “The Mother of Bride,” Brenda Howard, organized Gay Pride Week and Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade a year after the Stonewall Riots, which marked the first official Pride Parade. These events have now merged to create the New York City Pride March. Brenda is now considered the creator of Pride month by planning these events that sparked marches and parades across the world.
The rainbow flag is the symbol of Pride, designed by Gilbert Baker when Harvey Milk, a gay politician, asked him to create an all encompassing symbol for San Fransico’s Pride March in 1978. The individual colors on the flag have their own unique meaning: red symbolizes life, orange represents healing, yellow is for sunshine, green is nature, blue symbolizes harmony, and purple represents spirit. Hot pink was adding to symbolize sex, along with turquoise which stands for art. Other traditions of Pride Month include costumes, make up, and glitter. Campaigns and rallies are held to promote and preserve the history of the LGBTQ+ community. June is also the time to commemorate those in the community who have lost their lives to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS.
Different cultures celebrate Pride in their own way. In the Middle East, Tel Aviv is the biggest celebration for the LGBTQ+ community. The Pride Parade in London takes participants on a tour around Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, and Trafalgar Street. Asia’s biggest LGBTQ+ event is Taipei, which has turned into a celebration due to Taiwan passing a bill allowing same-sex marriages. Berlin is Germany’s Pride capital which can bring over half a million people together every year. Reykjavik, an Icelandic city, has celebrated Pride month since 1999 and has now become a 10 day event.
Pride Month is a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, remember those who have lost their lives to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS, and bring awareness to the issues this community still continues to face. The LGBTQ+ community has made huge strides to create an equal society and continues to work hard for their communities rights. It is a time for fun and friends to come together and bring light to this amazing community.
Greenville Upcoming Events:
June 13th 10:30am-1:30pm Pride Drag Brunch at The Scullery Coffee House
June 26th 10am-2pm NAMI Pride at Town Common
Related Links:
https://www.them.us/story/first-timers-guide-to-pride
