Pride Month is celebrated each June to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. Pride Month commemorate years of struggle for civil rights and the ongoing work to achieve equal justice under the law for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community.
It is celebrated each year in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which was a critical tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In June of 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar located in New York City’s Greenwich Village that was a regular meeting space for the gay, lesbian, and transgender community. On that night, members of the city’s LGBTQ community decided to fight back. The uprising marked the beginning of a movement to fight against discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ+ Americans.
Read More About the Stonewall Uprising HERE
Bill Clinton was the first U.S. President to officially recognize Pride Month in 1999 and 2000. During his term, Barack Obama declared June LGBTQ Pride Month.
Today, Pride Month celebrations include uplifting parades with floats, joyous festivals, workshops, picnics, and parties. These events attract millions of participants from around the world and focus on not just celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, but also educating people on how to support and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and laws to make the country a safer and better place.
We are proud to see such great progress since Stonewall, but there is still much to be done. Today, the LGBTQ+ community is still fighting for fundamental rights in hospitals, schools, public accommodations, and other spaces. We are linked as a community, so when one group’s dignity and equality are threatened, we are all affected.
Let us remain committed to the fight ahead and continue to take every action to build an affirming and inclusive society for all.
More Information:
Pride Month Events in Los Angeles
Essential Reading for Pride Month and Beyond
Partners Is proud to be a LGBTQ friendly organization. We support the civil rights of all individuals and oppose all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
