June 1 marks the start of Pride Month, a month of celebration across the country for the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout the month and beyond, IGNITE will be celebrating LGBTQ+ leaders/activists, uplifting voices, increasing awareness and sharing ways to take action to support the LGBTQ+ community. Keep reading to learn more.
On June 28 of 1969, police raided Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ+ bar in New York City. As a result, LGBTQ+ activists protested this ongoing harassment and brutality over the following six days in a series of events known as the Stonewall Uprising. Activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Stormé DeLarverie, among many others, played an important role during these events, which was a pivotal moment for LGBTQ+ rights.
During June of the following year, pride marches were held in honor of the Stonewall Uprising, to continue the fight for equality and to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. Since then, Pride Month has been celebrated in June. Pride parades and events are held throughout the month to honor the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history and to honor those who have fought for, and continue to fight for, equality. In 2016, the site of the the Stonewall Uprisings was recognized as a national monument by President Barack Obama.
You can celebrate Pride Month by attending pride events, supporting LGBTQ+ artists/creators and donating to organizations like the Trevor Project.
While Pride Month is a time of celebration, it's also important to acknowledge that we are still making strides towards equality. There are more out LGBTQ+ elected officials in the U.S. than ever before, yet the LGBTQ+ community is still underrepresented in politics. Many LGBTQ+ people continue to face harassment and discrimination. Over the past few years, there has also been an uptick in anti-LGBTQ+ bills being introduced in multiple states, and many of these bills specifically target the Trans community. Over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced into Congress in 2023 so far, according to the Legislative Tracking spreadsheet compiled by Allison Chapman, Alejandra Caraballo and Erin Reed. It's a crucial time to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and there are many ways you can take action, like the young activists who are leading the way.
By advocating for bills that protect LGBTQ+ rights, you can help create real change. Take a moment to advocate for the Equality Act here. This bill would expand federal civil rights laws to project LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in areas such as employment, housing, credit and more.
Another way to take action is use the power of social media to advocate for change. Learn more about social media advocacy here.
During Pride Month and beyond, let's continue to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, listen to and uplift the voices of the community and help create change.
National Center for Transgender Equality