Pride Month 2020

Every year in June the LGBT+ community comes together to celebrate in a number of different ways- Around the world various events are held as a way of recognising the influence LGBT+ people have. 

Pride Month is an opportunity to peacefully protest and raise political awareness of issues facing the community- Parades are a prominent feature of Pride Month, and there are also many street parties, community events, street festivals and educational sessions which are covered by mainstream media and attract millions of participants. 

In the early hours of June 28 1969, the Stonewall riots, also called Stonewall uprising, took place. They were a series of violent confrontations between police and gay rights activists outside the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City. As the riots progressed, an international gay rights movement was born.

The riots served as a catalyst for the rights of LGBT+ people, and within 6 months, 2 gay activist groups had formed in New York. Over the years since the event, many gay rights organisations have been formed. Not just in the USA but around the world.

Pride Month is so important because it marks the start of huge change within the LGBT+ community- Although attitudes and injustice still remain, things have come a long way since the riots of 1969 and raising awareness has definitely helped to improve the attitudes of society and encourage inclusiveness.

Known as the “Mother of Pride”, it was Brenda Howard who coordinated the first LGBT Pride March. This started a week of events around Pride Day, and from this the events grew bigger and expanded into the annual LGBT+ celebrations held every June.

LGBT+/Gay Pride is a movement that celebrates sexual diversity. For lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people it is a way of protesting about discrimination and violence. It promotes their dignity, equal rights, self-affirmation and is a way of increasing society’s awareness of the issues they face.

On Saturday 27th June, Pride organisations across the world will celebrate Global Pride 2020- Search for Global Pride 2020 to find out more.

It is essential that we all strive to create a world of inclusivity and equality- where everyone is treated equally regardless of their race, religion, gender and sexual orientation.