June is Pride Month – and now more than ever it is imperative for LGBTQ+ people to continue championing for inclusivity and community. With 2024 being an election year, during which we saw 500+ anti-LGBTQ+ bills filed in states across the country, some of them becoming law, we encourage LGBTQ+ people and allies to remain steadfast in the pursuit for equality.
Though the community has seen immense strides over the years in terms of acceptance and broader inclusion, there is still work to be done. Despite being a joyous occasion, we must remain vigilant and conscious that pride is rooted in protest. Dating back to June 1969 in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Pride Month commemorates the response to police harassment and persecution of LGBTQ+ Americans during a slew of unprecedented raids at a local gay club, the Stonewall Inn. The Stonewall Uprising has since laid a monumental foundation in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and continues to serve as the catalyst for continued advocacy efforts spanning across the country.
But while preparing for the social gatherings and parades, we must remember that Pride Month means different things for different people. For some, Pride Month is a time of reflection to look inward on their journey to self-acceptance. Many LGBTQ+ people struggle to find themselves and understand their identity due to either a lack of internal acceptance or even outward acceptance from family and peers. During the month, we take the time to honor ourselves and the journey to get to this place where we can visibly showcase our pride and reflect over the hardships endured.
For others, Pride Month is a time to embrace community and find others with a shared lived experience. Some LGBTQ+ people experience isolation from non-LGBTQ+ peers and colleagues, especially those living in rural areas where there may be a lack of LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance. This isolation can lead to increased rates of anxiety and depression, which disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ people. As we’re able to come into our truth and live openly within our identities, we often have the ability to connect and experience relationships that were once an anomaly.
This month, we encourage you to celebrate and use your joy as a form of resistance in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric. The joy that we carry this month and after, is derived from deeply rooted connections from LGBTQ+ leaders before us: Harvey Milk, Marsha P. Johnson, Bayard Rustin, Sylvia Rivera and more, who fought for our rights to stand proudly and openly in our identities. Though the current political and social climate can feel intimidating, the joy that we have is far greater than the language used against us. As we show up as our authentic selves, we give others who may not yet have the opportunity to experience their full selves the confidence to do so.
