By: Tasha Cudinski

What is Pride month? Every year during the month of June America celebrates Pride month. Pride celebrates LGBTQIA+ rights and identities, allowing people the chance to gather and show their pride in who they are. Places that celebrate Pride will often put on a huge parade with dancers and various organizations that want to show their support.

On June 28th, 1969, in New York City, a police raid led to the Stonewall Riots, one of the first major protests against prosecutions of LGBTQIA+ peoples, and a movement that is often credited with being a starting place of the larger movement. The Stonewall Riots happened when police raided a gay bar, and attempted to arrest the people inside for being members of the LGBTQIA+ society. Instead of allowing themselves to be unfairly imprisoned for who they were, the people at the bar fought back, eventually being joined by thousands of people from across New York, who had come to protest against the police and the prosecution of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The one year anniversary of the riots was the first ever Pride celebration in America, and the beginning of Pride month.

During Pride people of the LGBTQIA+ community gather together to celebrate. There are the parades, as well as music and drag shows. Many companies will have special products as a way of showing support for Pride, and earning money. People who are celebrating Pride will often wear clothing with rainbows, or flags that represent their identities. Pride goes on for the entire month and is open to all who are accepting of other people’s identities.

For more information, please visit::

• https://www.loc.gov/ghe/cascade/index.html?appid=90dcc35abb714a24914c68c9654adb67&scr lybrkr=eec62bbd
• https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/june-28/