So, although you’ll see sequins, rainbows, parade floats, and pool parties sponsored by liquor brands and banks, understand that Pride is equal parts celebration, protest, and community-building.īecause our bodies and our identities are still policed by the government, religious groups, and even the people we love, we reserve Pride as the opportunity to express ourselves authentically. At its peak, over 1,000 people took to the streets of Greenwich Village in one of the first organized modern LGBTQ+ protests. Tired of harassment, patrons of The Stonewall protested, which turned into several days of riots. The venues were the only “safe” spaces for LGBTQ+ people but they were frequently raided by the police. The mob opened bars where people could gather in order to profit off the discrimination of our community. Pride occurs each summer to commemorate the Stonewall Riots that happened in New York City in 1969.Īt the time, most states had laws in place banning LGBTQ+ people from assembling in groups.
