By Taylor Mann, Mental Health Counseling Intern
Happy Pride Month! Every June we celebrate Pride Month as we celebrate our LGBTQ community!
Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Pride Month in the month of June? During the earlymorning of June 28th of 1969, the Stonewall Uprising occurred. The Stonewall Inn was, and still is, a gay bar known for providing a safe place for the LGBTQ community. Police raided the Stonewall Inn to investigate the illegal sale of alcohol according to the Library of Congress. As police detained and arrested many patrons and employees, tensions escalated, and an angry crowd protested against the raids and harassmenttargeted at gay establishments. An important note to remember is that the Stonewall Uprising was not the only violent conflictin the late 50’s and 60’s to occur. Tensions remained high because up until 1973, homosexuality could be deemed illegaland was defined as a mental illness.
We can still see increased tension surrounding the LGBTQ population today, such as controversy over Pride symbols. There have been arguments across various organizations regarding the Pride flag and its use of a rainbow as a symbol. The pride flag was created by artist Gilbert Baker. In 1978, the original flag was created with 8 stripes, but in 1979, it was modified to 6 stripes due to fabric supply issues at the time. Each color within the flag represents a specific meaning.
Beyond the controversy surrounding Pride symbols, there is also an abundance of anti-LGBTQ legislation in the United States. Over 700 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced across the country in 2023, according to the Movement Advancement Project. In order to prevent history from repeating itself, we need to advocate for equality and fight against discrimination. It can be life altering for millions.
If you’re not sure how to support the LGBTQ community, here are a few options. Pride month can be celebrated by raisingawareness about injustices surrounding LGBTQ issues, educating yourself and others about gender and sexuality, volunteering with activist groups or nonprofits to promoteLGBTQ rights. For more information on how you can celebrate Pride Month, check out the following article.
In the words of Harvey Fierstein, “Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself.”