Events / LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

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Pride Month is an annual celebration of the many contributions made by the LGBTQIA+ community to history, society and cultures worldwide. In most places, Pride is celebrated throughout the month of June each year in commemoration of its roots in the Stonewall Riots of June 1969.

History of Pride Month

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, or just Pride Month for short, is a holiday that is celebrated each year in the month of June. This special time was intentionally set in June to commemorate the Stonewall riots of 1968 in Manhattan, New York in the US. While during the 1950’s and 60’s, the concept of being gay was not often spoken of or publicly expressed due to the pressure of American society and the social norms that viewed being gay as a taboo and a mental disorder, there was a population of people who did not believe in oppressing these rights. And they stood against the government because of it.

At the tip of the iceberg, when the Stonewall Inn located in New York City started being raided by police because it was a gay bar, people started retaliating against police in defense of the gay bar and their believed right to be gay in the world. This is an example of a grass roots uprising that took place over the length of 6 days and was the beginning of many people, who had previously been quiet, starting to stand up for their cause.

Support for LGBTQ+ pride has since been growing steadily over the past few decades, even when the LGBTQ+ lifestyle was considered taboo during the 1970’s and 80’s. As more people started backing up the movement and people started understanding what being gay meant, Pride Month then started becoming a more popular concept during the 1990’s and 2000’s.

Multiple holidays arose out of the LGBTQ+ movement, and Pride Month has become one of the biggest celebrations all over the United States, with its main center of action in New York City. In NYC, parades would commence along the streets and people would dress up in their most colorful and prideful outfits and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community for everyone to see. The celebration also occurs in other parts of the world who join in solidarity with the cause of freedom and rights for all.

Join a seminar or parade near you. See how you can make a difference. Use #PrideMonth to share on social media.

    • Get Educated About Pride Month
      • One important way to celebrate Pride Month is to learn more about this history of the LGBTQ+ movement.
    • Show Appreciation to Others
      • Whether you’re a person who lives an LGBTQ+ lifestyle, or you simply want to be supportive, this is a great time to be reminded to find people who love you for you and let them know how much it means. Send some cards or thank you notes to people who have been caring and make the most out of the time by building stronger relationships.

Our office proudly support WashUMed OutMed for faculty, trainees and staff and WashUMed LGBTQ+ Med student-run interest group dedicated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) identity and health.

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