Pride Month: Celebrate, Support, and Stand Together!

It’s Pride Month!

Every June, we start seeing rainbow colors everywhere, there are plenty of parades, and events every weekend. It is such a fun time with plenty of events for everyone of different ages to enjoy while supporting those in the LGBTQ+ community, as members, themselves or as allies.

History of Pride Month

To know how Pride Month came to be, we have to take a look back at the 1960s and specifically how the LGBTQ+ community was treated. Misinformation and bias against the LGBTQ+ community were everywhere. Coming out as being in the community was dangerous. It could lead to someone losing their job, their home, their family, or even their life. This left many people in the community feeling alone in the world.

There were areas across the U.S. that became known as “safe” places for those in the community to go to. “Boys Town” was that place for Chicago, Greenwich Village in New York City, and many more. These are areas where landlords were willing to rent to people in the LGBTQ+ community, some work could be found, and there were bars that they were welcome in.

That does not mean it was truly safe, though. The owners of these homes and bars were aware of the situation these people were in and took advantage of this. Bars would allow the police to raid the establishment and arrest the patrons in the community in exchange for a free pass on other infractions the bars themselves were committing. Landlords charged high prices for rent knowing their tenants had nowhere else to go.

This all led up to the Stonewall riots. The Stonewall riots were the beginning of a turn; laws began to change, society could not ignore the LGBTQ+ community, and the people in the community were empowered. A year after the riots, LGBTQ+ groups across the U.S. picketed in remembrance of the Stonewall riots. This later became the Pride Parade.

How Does This Impact Us?

All of these situations were creating an environment of pain, fear, desperation, and helplessness. There were high numbers of abuse and exploitation. Though there was no organization to turn to, and organizations oftentimes did not allow those in the LGBTQ+ community to receive their help. If they did allow them to receive their services, the organizations were not educated on how to help the LGBTQ+ community. The normal safety plans would not work in these situations. It was not always possible to move or leave the community, police reports were not an option, any legal action was also not possible, and most shelters did not allow members of the LGBTQ+ community to reside with them.

While we certainly have come a long way, there is still a way to go today. There is still misinformation being spread, there are still people who cannot safely come out, there are still shelters that will turn away members of the LGBTQ+ community, and there is still more education organizations need to receive. There are extra barriers involved with getting help as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, as many ways of reaching out could out a survivor and put them in harm’s way.

Showing up to Pride is our way to say we are here to support you as you are. We invite everyone to come as they are.

Resources

General Support and Advocacy:

• The Trevor Project: Offers specific support for LGBTQ+ individuals with their hotline and other resources

• PFLAG, Offers support groups for members of the community as well as their families. Their motto is: '“When you no longer need their support, you can stay and offer support to others.”

• GLAAD: Provides media advocacy and LGBTQ+ representation.

• HRC: Provides LGBTQ+ advocacy for rights and equality

Written by
Kelly McElroy
Prevention Educator at Mutual Ground