Pride remembers our history
It was unlawful for LGBT persons to congregate in bars in 1969, and it was also illegal for establishments to serve them. The Mafia-owned Stonewall Inn in New York’s Greenwich Village was one of the few venues where LGBT people could get a drink or hang out. Even there, life wasn’t easy: cops stormed the pub frequently, issuing fines and arresting patrons forcibly. On June 28th, 1969, Marsha Johnson, a black trans woman, retaliated by tossing a shot glass at police officers. This act of defiance, now known as the “shot glass heard around the world,” sparked days of rioting as LGBT people protested police violence and intolerance.
While the LGBT civil rights movement has come a long way since then, we’re still a long way from full equality and freedom-which is why we should never forget where and how Pride celebrations began.
Pride celebrates our triumphs
LGBT people have a lot to be thankful for as a community. In 2015, the LGBT community celebrated the election of the first bisexual governor — the first and only openly LGBT governor in history. Pride also normalizes families and individuals that break the heteronormative mold. For example, people have become more accepting of families with two mothers or fathers, and this is love that transcends prejudices!
With historic magazine covers, truthful TV depictions of same-sex intercourse, and transgender awareness, we’ve also conquered Hollywood. Pride is a celebration of all of these things and more.
