Happy Pride Month, Friend.
Pride began as a riot. We would not be here today, as young, loud, proud, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) individuals without the brave Black and Latina Trans women who *literally* fought for our right to exist.
In 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar and safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community of New York City. At the time, “homosexual acts” remained illegal in every state except Illinois, and bars and restaurants could get shut down for having gay employees or serving gay patrons. While police raids of gay bars were common, when Stonewall Inn was raided on June 28, 1969, the local LGBTQ+ community fought back.
What started as police violently targeting LGBTQ+ individuals led to 6 days of resistance and protest by a justifiably enraged LGBTQ+ community saying no more to police oppression. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, two trans women of color, were said to have resisted arrest and threw the first object (either a bottle, brick, or stone) at the cops. Pride, as we know it, was born from this riot.
We honor those that are out today, those brave enough to be themselves while there was so much outright homophobia, those that must hide their full selves because of their situation, and a time to honor and remember those who were killed for being themselves.
Transgender and queer people have always existed (6 min video). Gay activism and pride are thought to have started in the 1960s but had been present in US literature since the 1920s by a gay soldier in Chicago. Learn more about the history of gay activism in the US in this video (5 min video).
LGBTQ+ activism is still needed today. LGBTQ+ folks’ rights are still under attack today. Trans children are being targeted by transphobic legislators across the country. This map is a visual representation of anti-trans legislation in the US this year.
Though it is not technically against the law to be LGBTQ+ today, that doesn’t mean it is easy. Many families are still not accepting of LGBTQ+ youth and this leads to higher statistics of suicide or attempted suicide, houselessness, and health disparities amongst the community. Targeted legislation towards transgender children puts life-saving healthcare in jeopardy and supportive parents and healthcare providers at risk of criminalization.
Despite the obstacles the community faces, we are resilient, strong, and full of love and Pride – the best tools used to continue paving the way for future generations.
As you celebrate this Pride Month, I hope you will donate to URGE's #100ReasonsWhy fundraising campaign to support our network of young, queer, PROUD, abortion-positive activists across the South, Midwest, and California.
Thank you,
