What exactly is pride month? Well it’s a month long celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, in which there are parades, flags, and just people being proud of who they are. So what do people do, and why should they be proud?

To start, people celebrate Pride month in different ways. Many people like to march in Pride parades, which are parades held in big cities like L.A. or New York.  Here people a part of the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and more) community come together to celebrate and march. These cities do this to signify self acceptance and achievements of these people. This isn’t just in America either. You can find Pride parades in Canada, Brazil, and Japan.

The idea of Pride month started in 1969 in New York, with the Stonewall riots. The Stonewall riots were a bunch of riots for gay rights over the course of several days. These people were rioting because of a police raid in lower Manhattan, New York at-the Stonewall Inn. To commemorate this the next year, people held a peaceful march where they could express themselves as they paraded through the streets of Manhattan. 

The LGBTQ+ community is a very strong and unappreciated community. So many people are a part of it.  Many feel they don’t fit into society’s  rules leaving them feeling  left out by co-workers and even fellow students. No one  should be ashamed of  who they are, and this is reflected in Pride month. It’s supposed to signify that when society brings people down, they will stand back up, and continue to fight against oppression. This community should truly be proud of who they are.

What do you think? In your opinion, what should people do to celebrate Pride month? Don’t be afraid to show your true self. Leave a comment!