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The Origins of Pride Month
By: Rachel Chung
When you think of June, what comes to mind? Most people think of sunny beaches and freshly cut watermelon, log cabins and half-melted ice cream. If you’re a student maybe you think of long nights and longer essays, endless caffeine sources, and the overwhelming exhaustion that comes with exam season. But many people forget that June is about more than the reopening of pools and updating of grades. June is pride month–a month that exists to celebrate, validate, educate, and inspire the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Throughout history, individuals who love those of the same sex or who feel as if they do not belong on the traditional male-female binary have existed. Unfortunately, love, respect, and acceptance has not always been shown towards these individuals. The 2SLGBTQIA+ community has always existed and it is time for society to acknowledge and apologize for the great difficulties and prejudices that they have faced. Pride month is much more than every retail giant displaying a rainbow logo. Pride month celebrates the great struggles and triumphs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and is a time to spread love, awareness, and acceptance all around the world.
June was first officially recognized as Pride month in 1999 by President Bill Clinton who declared it to be Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. But why is June pride month? Why not February, or November, or any other month of the year? Although Pride month was officially acknowledged and celebrated in 1999, the events that shaped its eventual creation took place in the 1960s.
During the 1960s, New York had strict laws in place against the gathering of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, which they deemed to be disorderly. Gay clubs and bars, which were often the only places 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals could express themselves freely, were targeted and shut down by the New York Liquor Authority. In fact, before 1966, bartenders were legally allowed to refuse alcohol to anyone they suspected was a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.Eventually, an organization known as the Mattachine began a sip-in, where members openly declared their sexuality at bars and sued bars that did not serve them. As a result of their bravery and persistence The Commission on Human Rights revoked the law, effectively reducing police violence.
However, even after this law was overturned, people still found themselves at the mercy of the police if they dared to hold hands or dance with someone of the same sex. Despite the best efforts of activist groups, New York’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community repeatedly found themselves banned from simply enjoying themselves as many other straight patrons were able to.
This is where the mafia comes in.
The underground crime bosses of New York City quickly realized that they could use the city’s rampant homophobia to their advantage. If they opened a gay bar that was virtually immune to police raids (thanks to bribery and blackmail) their business–and profits–would grow enormously. And so, Stonewall Inn was created.
Despite the frankly awful conditions of the bar, which were due to the frequent costs cut by the Mafia and the lack of inspections by the police, Stonewall Inn quickly became an important sanctuary for New York’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community. At Stonewall Inn, drag queens performed without shame, same-sex couples danced without fear, and numerous, homeless 2SLGBTQIA+ youth found safety and acceptance within the bar’s crumbling walls. After decades of harassment, it seemed as if New York’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community was finally safe.
But their happiness didn’t last long. On June 28, 1969, the police launched a surprise raid on Stonewall Inn. In one morning the police tore apart an integral part of New York’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community. But instead of being beaten into shame and submission once again, New York’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community had had enough. Enraged by the horrible violence taking place against 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, neighbours and community members began to take action. Full-scale riots took place as streets became a mess of chaos, violence, indignant anger, and blind hatred. To the police, the Stonewall Inn raid was just another job. But to the long mistreated 2SLGBTQIA+ community of New York, it was an absolutely devastating loss.
The Stonewall Uprising ultimately served as a catalyst for the 2SLGBTQIA+ rights movements all around the world. A year later, the streets of New York were flooded as America’s first gay pride parade took place. From Manhattan to Greenwich, the parade’s chant could be heard loud and clear. Thousands of people marched down the streets of New York as their cries of “Say it loud, gay is proud” echoed around the city. Years later, we continue to celebrate the triumphs and acknowledge the pain that 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals experience and overcome in the same way–by gathering together and celebrating the complex beauty of human love and identity.