Every summer, the world witnesses a vibrant and unique celebration of individuality from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. June is the month of Pride when LGBTQIA+ groups worldwide unite to celebrate love, diversity, acceptance, and unashamed self-pride. The pandemic may have forced our people into online gatherings for two years, but this 2022, Pride is ready to shine brighter than ever.
Why is Pride important?
Pride celebrations have their roots in the long battle of minority groups to overcome discrimination and gain acceptance. Like most similar festivities in the United States, the homage occurs on or around the anniversary of the New York City Stonewall Riots, which happened after a police raid on the gay-oriented Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village on June 28, 1969. In 1970, a year after these riots, the city birthed the first Pride Parade, a small event held in Golden Gate Park.
Through the years, celebrating Pride has grown, not just in numbers within the LGBTQIA+ community, but in popularity. Pride is important because it continues to provide LGBTQIA+ people with a sense of belonging, a safe space, and the freedom to celebrate who they are and who they love without fear of being judged. Furthermore, there is still much more progress to be achieved, and Pride is one of the ways we can raise awareness about LGBTQIA+ concerns and injustices around the world.
The month-long festivities have traditionally been parades, protests, drag performances, live theater, and memorials and celebrations of life for community members who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS, aiming to fight the stigma associated with the disease. It also assists in the reduction of homophobic and transphobic hate crimes, both of which have terrible consequences for LGBTQIA+ populations. Pride encourages hate-crime reports to provide the community with the urgent protection they need. There are still sixty-nine nations where homosexuality is illegal, and gay people in these countries rely on us to fight for their right to exist.
People who organize and join Pride marches and parades get the chance to recognize and validate their sense of self. Young LGBT people may struggle to identify with those around them, leading to feelings of alienation and a significant impact on their mental health. They can express themselves and feel included by participating in Pride, a safe place where everyone is equal. A place where they can show how much better the world could be with a little more love for others and oneself.
The Pride Parade & Celebration, the world’s largest, loudest, and most rebellious rainbow-hued late-June extravaganza, is back! It aims to return in full force this 2022, following a two-year hiatus due to the epidemic, with a slate of in-person events set for June 25-26, including its hallmark parade. As the globe recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, Pride will continue to change, but that does not mean we should stop honoring the achievements of LGBTQ activists who have changed the world.
Everyone who loves Pride is excited to return to the streets with real people and face-to-face interactions. LGBT Pride Month events attract millions of participants from around the world each year. As vaccinations increase COVID19 restrictions have ended in most states.
Stay tuned as we learn more about this year’s in-person celebration!
