Every June, people worldwide come together to celebrate Pride and remind everyone that work is still to be done. This article explains Pride's meaning to the LGBTQIA+ community and why it is so important.
How did Pride Day start?
Pride day has its roots in the Stonewall Riots of 1969. The Stonewall Riots were a series of protests and demonstrations by the LGBTQIA+ community after a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. The riots are widely considered the beginning of the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement.
In the aftermath of the Stonewall Riots, the first Pride marches were held in 1970 in New York City and Los Angeles. Since then, Pride has been celebrated worldwide, on every continent except Antarctica. Pride is a time to come together, celebrate how far we have come, and continue the fight for equality.
So what does Pride mean to the LGBTQIA+ community?
Pride is about visibility and showing the world that there are different gender identities. It is a time to celebrate sexuality and remind everyone that everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.
Pride is also about protesting the discrimination and violence that this community faces. Every year, together with their allies, community members march to demand an end to hate crimes, transphobia, and the discrimination that LGBTQIA+ people face in their everyday lives.
Why is Pride a protest?
Pride day is a protest because it celebrates being different and refusing to conform to the status quo. It's an acknowledgment that many people have been marginalized by society and a celebration of people for their uniqueness. It's a way for the LGBTQIA+ community to celebrate their identities, which are unfortunately oftentimes still challenged by people who don't understand or want to accept them.
It's also a protest because it shows that there are still issues with discrimination in our society. There are still people out there who believe that being gay is wrong, that a transgender should not be allowed to exist or transition, or any other bigoted opinions against this community. Pride Day is a way to show that LGBTQIA+ people will not be silenced. They will continue being themselves no matter what anyone else thinks about them.
The whole point of Pride is to remind the world that there are still people who don't get to feel safe or comfortable in their own skin. It's a reminder that Pride never sleeps - even though many individuals have made great strides toward equality, we still have a long way to go as a society.
Become an ally!
This year's Pride celebrations have looked a little different due to the pandemic, but that doesn't mean that the spirit of Pride is any less alive. There are many ways to celebrate Pride, even if you haven’t been able to be at a march or parade physically. You can show your support by donating to LGBTQIA+ organizations or simply by sharing your story and raising awareness about the issues this colourful community faces.
We at Lyger Coffee are proud to show our support for Pride. We are all for helping the world be a more inclusive and accepting place for everyone.
Thank you for reading.
Source:
https://respublicapolitics.com/articles/pride-and-the-legacy-of-stonewall-a-reflection-on-the-meaning-of-political-resistance-belonging-and-resilience
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/13/learning/film-club-the-stonewall-you-know-is-a-myth-and-thats-ok.html