What is Pride Month?
Pride month is marked in June to celebrate the LGBTQAI+ communities worldwide. LGBTQAI+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Asexual and Intersex community. From June 1st to 30th, Pride Month is celebrated through organized activities like film festivals and art exhibits worldwide. The symbol of the pride month is the rainbow flag. It was designed in 1978 by the artist Gilbert Baker, representing the diversity of the LGBTQAI+ community.
Each flag color represents something significant, like red is for life, orange is for healing, yellow is for sunshine, green is for nature, blue is for harmony, and purple is for spirit. LGBTQAI+ community is a force and advocate for issues like discrimination, legal rights, and health disparities.
Why is Pride Month celebrated in June?
In order to honor the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, New York, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Asexual, and Intersex (LGBTQAI+) Pride Month is celebrated each year in June. The main components of the Pride Month festivities include colorful, uplifting parades with celebrities, workshops, and picnics all wrapped in rainbow colors. It typically originated in the United States and then found its way into all the small towns and cities worldwide.
The official and organized pursuit of equality among the LGBTQAI+ community and the queer started back in 1924 with the foundation of the Society of Human Rights in Chicago by Henry Gerber. This event marked the fuelling of movements all over New York in June 1969 in Greenwich Village at Stonewall Inn. The LGBTQAI+ community stood tall as many riots roared and endured police vigilance. Finally, the force had to give up, and this little victory of the Queer community in June is why Pride Month is celebrated in June.
Five ways to celebrate Pride Month:
- Educate yourself
June is the best time to delve into the history of LGBTQAI+ and educate yourself about the history of the community and their struggles. Learn about the fundamental rights that the community is deprived of and share their stories and struggles with others to inculcate a deeper understanding and acceptance of the community in society. Many books and movies are made around the history and activism of the same. Social media is also a great medium to know about and establish views about LGBTQAI+ communities.
- Participate in a Pride Parade or an Event
Participate in the pride parade in your towns and showcase your support for the community by being an ally. The celebrations are often pompous and vibrant. People dance and celebrate people from all communities and are very inclusive. Wear your most vibrant clothes and cover yourself in rainbow colors to project your support with the LGBTQAI+ community. Pride parades happen every weekend in cities all over; join them in their celebrations this weekend!
- Volunteer and Donate
Your peers who belong to the LGBTQAI+ community might have a hard time coming out. So when your peer tells you they are a part of the community, be supportive and an ally. You may have many questions, educate yourself on the internet and volunteer youth by joining their charity community for fun raising foundations that work for the welfare of the LGBTQAI+ community. Donate if it is financially viable for you and be an active member of NGOs that comfort youth troubled with acceptance and belonging issues.
- Respect LGBTQAI+ culture and art
Be an active advocate for the community and widen your horizon regarding promoting and spreading awareness for the LGBTQAI+ community. Buy from their shops and help them grow as they are neglected and there is aware of unconscious bias. The community is known for its vibrancy and influence. Visit exhibits and films that portray their culture and art for the upliftment of the LGBTQAI+ community.
