A Spectrum of LGBTQ History Month
© Andrea Blanch, ”Gia” 1978, Jones beach NY
Before the empowering parades, the proudly brandished rainbows on storefronts, and the various organizations that now champion gay rights and equality, the keystone of this month starts on Christopher Street in New York City. June 27, 1969: a steamy summer soirée at the Stonewall Inn—a gay bar and recreational tavern in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan. As overall merriment carried into the early hours of the 28th, police raided the building, hauling patrons outside. New York’s gay community, inunduated after years of harassment by authorities, saw rapidly-escalating tensions as people resisted arrest and bystanders assembled unexpectedly. A night which began with revelry and branched into bigotry would eventually evolve into a multi-day protest, seeding the demand of acceptance that would span the next several decades.
© Ruben Natal-San Miguel, New York (Hoop Earring), 2019. Courtesy of Postmasters Gallery.
The one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots was marked by demonstrations in preeminent cities across the country: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. As the 1970s gave way to the 1980s, a significant cultural shift stemmed from the commemorations; less radical elements of the gay community replaced the preceeding grassroots marches. The parades and events ceased using terms such as “liberation” and “freedom” in coincidence with pressure from more conservative members of the community, replacing them with an overall philosophy of “gay pride”. The 1990s saw parades and celebrations become political platforms to address the needs and rights of the gay community; from raising awareness against the AIDS epidemic, to the fight for marriage equality, and even basic protection against general harassment.
© Ruben Natal-San Miguel, PRIDE, 2019. Courtesy of Postmasters Gallery.
And although Stonewall is considered by many activists to be the origin of Pride and a direct response to police raids and brutality, numerous instances of civil resistance took place prior. Groups in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. under the collective name East Coast Homophile Organizations (ECHO) assembled during the 1950s and 1960s. These factions would frequently organize picket lines in urban settings to profess matters of concern from discrimination of employment and public accommodations to the prohibition of gays from military service and routine police provocation.
The gatherings and marches coordinated by LGBTQ community members has culminated into a highly organized roster of events attracting a broad spectrum of gay demonstrators and straight allies. Greater levels of acceptance toward the community has aided in the growing popularity of Pride events. And while the glamor of Pride celebrations has elevated the profile of the gay community, this month also signifies a moment to memorialize the history of the LGBTQ social movement. It marks an opportunity for this umbrella of individuals to coalesce, to take inventory of the advances and hindrances from the past year. But, most importantly, Pride Month is a chance for the community to come together in an affirming atmosphere.
And how will Pride look this year? Rallies, marches, and parades from all over the country—Los Angeles, Boston, New York—are being organized and will take place virtually. Additionally, members of the LGBT community have marshalled to support the efforts of the Black Lives Matter movement and to augment the voices of protesters marching for justice for George Floyd. The encompassing attitude of Pride encourages for intersectional behavior, which is why this year’s pride month seems to be lifting up queer people of color especially.
Franke-Ruta, G. (2013, January 24). An Amazing 1969 Account of the Stonewall Uprising [Editorial]. The Atlantic. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://www.theatlantic.com
Polish, J. (2020, June 18). The Origins Of Pride Month: What You Should Know About Its History [Editorial]. Bustle. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://www.bustle.com
Thompson, B. (2020, June 1). The History Of Pride Month And What It Can Teach Us About Moving Forward Today [Editorial]. Forbes. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com
Winsor, M. (2020, June 2). LGBT Pride Month 2020: What to know about its history, events, parades [Editorial]. ABC News. Retrieved June 25, 2020, from https://abcnews.go.com/
