When is Pride Month?
Every year, the month of June is celebrated as Pride Month in the honor of the 2SLGBTQ+ (Two-spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and others) community.
The history behind the Pride Month
During the early morning of 28th June 1969, when homosexuality was still a criminal offence in the United States, the police raided the Stonewall in, then the most popular gay bar in NYC. Such raids were not uncommon, but this particular one was the tipping point that led to a massive protest, and hence the whole incident is famously known as the Stonewall Uprising.
The first Pride March was held on 28th June 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
Official Acceptance of Pride Month
In the US, the first-ever official Gay Pride Month was declared by President Bill Clinton in June 1999. Since then, many of the successive Presidents recognised Pride Month and it has found acceptance in several aspects.
Ways to celebrate Pride Month
Read the History of it
You can understand something better only by reading more about it. And the 2SLGBTQ+ community has been through so much over the years because of a lack of knowledge and understanding among others about this topic that they deserve to be treated equally at least now.
Attend a Pride parade and other related events
Even though India won’t have Pride parades this year due to COVID, the Indian 2SLGBTQ+ community can watch the Parades in other countries and other events across the globe virtually over the internet.
https://www.nycpride.org/events
Watch 2SLGBTQ+ movies or TV shows or read literature on this topic
Art can be the best of teachers. And in the era of Netflix and Amazon Prime Videos and Kindle, you can literally access unlimited content on this topic and enjoy them.
https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-lgbt-movies-of-all-time/
Spread Awareness
When you read and gain some knowledge on this topic, you would realise how little our society is aware of this particular community. So take it upon yourself to do your bit to spread awareness. Share this post with somebody for a start.
Host a small physical event
You could either host a small physical event and celebrate with family and close friends or organise a virtual one and have more of your friends join in. Every single one of them doesn’t have to be from the LGBTQ community. Pride is about inclusiveness and togetherness and you can celebrate even with people who aren’t like you but understand and support you.
Be proud of your Pride
If you are somebody who is afraid to come out because of the fear of embarrassment or insult, it’s time to be strong and overcome all your fears. Why can’t you just stay in hiding forever, you ask? Because your act of courage might motivate somebody else to be courageous. Courage is contagious, you know.
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