June is Pride Month, when the world’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. Pride Month is celebrated to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the early hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village, and began hauling customers outside. Tensions quickly escalated as patrons resisted arrest.
Known as the “Mother of Pride”, Brenda Howard coordinated the first LGBT Pride march. As well as sparking the idea for a week of events around Pride Day. These events then developed into the annual LGBT celebrations held every June.
Although attitudes and injustice still remain, we have come a long way since the riots of 1969 and by continuing in this long-standing tradition we continue to raise awareness, improve the attitudes of society and encourage inclusiveness.