Pride is a yearly celebration of LGBTQ+ identity. Marchers in cities around the world participate in parades of colorful floats to show their support of the local LGBTQ+ community. Pride celebrations have grown to include music, dancing, drag performances, and markets of local food and goods vendors.
The first Pride march was held on the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, which occurred in 1969 when people at the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted a police raid. It was originally called the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day after the street the Stonewall Inn is located on. These early “gay liberation marches” were fun, yet political. Attendees were activists with a goal in mind.
Over time, these marches became the celebratory Pride parades of today. Many celebrations still take place in June to honor the Stonewall Resistance. Modern Pride celebrations play an important role in the acceptance, self-expression, and belonging of LGBTQ+ individuals in community.
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- The original rainbow Pride flag was created in 1978 by artist Gilbert Baker when commissioned by activist Harvey Milk to create a symbol of gay pride. Today, there are dozens of flags that represent many different LGBTQ+ identities.
- Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004. While other states followed, it was not until 2015 that the Supreme Court legalized it in all 50 states.
- Allies are people who are not LGBTQ+ themselves but support other LGBTQ+ individuals. Anyone can be an ally!
- In 2024, more than 100 countries held Pride celebrations. For example, Pride in Amsterdam, Netherlands is a nine-day festival that includes a parade of boats through the city’s canals.
- Brenda Howar was an important organizer of the first Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day march.
- A Child’s Introduction to Pride: The Inspirational History and Culture of the LGBTQIA+ Community, by Sarah Prager
- ABC Pride, by Elly Barnes
- Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag, by Rob Sanders