June 1 marked the beginning of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month in the United States, which is celebrated annually in June to honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. In June 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City staged an uprising against the frequent police harassment and persecution of LGBTQI+ individuals. While the gay rights movement in the United States dated back to at least the 1920s, the Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement, sparking a new generation of activists to fight against laws and practices that discriminated against LGBTQI+ Americans. The nation’s first Gay Pride marches were held a year after the Stonewall Uprising. In 2016, the area around the Stonewall Inn was designated a national monument.
Today, Pride Month events in the United States attract millions of participants from around the world; celebrations take many forms, including parades, parties, workshops, symposia, and concerts. Additionally, memorials for members of the LGBTQI+ community lost to HIV/AIDS and hate crimes often occur during Pride Month.
In a June 1, 2023 blog post on Pride Month, Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, wrote: “There is no doubt that the month of June is about centering our defiant joy. It’s about marching and dancing and singing in the streets—despite those who are trying to silence us. It’s about celebrating all of the beautiful identities that make our movement stronger.”
For additional information on Pride Month and local Pride celebrations, please see the resources below: