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Revisiting LGBTQ History this Pride Month

Author :- TickleLife Editorial Team June 10, 2020, 9:57 a.m.
Revisiting LGBTQ History this Pride Month

Introduction

LGBTQ Pride Month is celebrated every year in June. Perhaps we should ponder on why the month of June was chosen for LGBTQ Pride Month.

Those people who find happiness in rainbows, let's revisit the lane of history. 

The vigilant month of June is meant to recognize the sweeping impact that LGBTQ individuals, advocates and allies have on history in the United States and around the globe, according to the Library of Congress. 

The History

June, the month of love and desires was chosen for LGBTQ Pride Month to celebrate the riots held by members of the LGBTQ community against a police raid that took place at the Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 28, 1969. 

The so-called Stonewall "riots" were a "tipping point" for the gay liberation movement, also paved way for the modern fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States according to the Library of Congress. Wasn't this proved a turning point?

The gleaming crown could be adorned in the pages of history when on several occasions, U.S. Presidents officially declared June as LGBTQ Pride Month. As per the ritual, memorials are also held for members of the LGBTQ community during the pride parades, marches, parties, concerts, workshops who have lost their lives to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS.

On June 28th, the police again raided Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar and officers conducted sex verifications on some of the transgender customers. That resulted into a 5- day long protest which turned out to be first Pride parade in 1970 against the treatment of the LGBTQ community. 

Marsha P. Johnson, an idol. She was a transgender African American woman who played an important role in the protest, challenging all the odds against the police at Stonewall in 1970. She spent her whole adult life fighting for equality. She is quite an exemplary personality in the golden books of history, devoting her life to instrumental gay rights movement at that time. 

Gilbert Baker, an American artist, gay rights activist and U.S. Army veteran, created a flag in 1978 as a new symbol for the gay and lesbian political movement at the suggestion of his friends and colleagues, including Harvey Milk, a San Francisco city supervisor and the first openly gay elected official in California. 

Unfortunately Milk was assassinated later that year.

The Pride Flag

The colors of the LGBT flag each have a meaning: Red for life, Orange for healing, Yellow for sunlight, Green for nature, Blue for harmony and Violet for spirit. So next time you wear any t-shirt of the same color, you know - what you stand for!! 

These colors present iconic, powerful symbol for LGBTQ Pride. They represent victory. 

The observance which involves highlighting the history of the people, LGBTQ rights and related civil rights movements during October in the United States, to include National Coming Out Day on October 11.

In the United Kingdom, it is observed during February, to coincide with a major celebration of the 2005 abolition of 'Section 28', which had prohibited local authorities from promoting homosexuality.

LGBTQ history dates back to the first recorded instances of same-sex love and sexuality of ancient civilizations, involving the history of lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender and queer (LGBTQ) peoples and cultures around the world. What survives after many centuries of persecution—resulting in shame, suppression, and secrecy—has only in more recent decades been pursued and interwoven into more mainstream historical narratives.

This year, there’s a full menu of online happenings designed to uplift LGBTQ+ culture and community. Whatever your interests — whatever your style — a whole world of queer people is out there, just waiting to (virtually) gather. So grab your seats to drive around a diverse crazy tour soon! Go explore.


Photo by Sahil Dahiya. Instagram handle: @brainclog