To celebrate pride month this year I wanted to first do so by celebrating someone who helped make this month even possible: Marsha P. Johnson (press space/tap to see her photo). This year, pride will look and feel different than it has in years past. Amongst the global coronavirus pandemic there are also movements across the United States and globally to protest police violence and systemic racism against Black people and to unequivocally state that Black Lives Matter. I wholeheartedly stand in solidarity with these movements and, as pride month is upon us, I think it’s important to honor and remember the people who made it even possible for us to celebrate pride today. The first pride was a riot in New York City in 1969. Many of those leading the way were women and queer people of color. Among those leaders was Marsha P. Johnson. "Marsha P. Johnson was an American gay liberation activist and self-identified drag queen. Known as an outspoken advocate for gay rights, Johnson was one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969." We, as LGBTQ+ people, owe our rights and our pride celebrations to Marsha P. Johnson and to countless other women and people of color. It’s important to remember and honor this in our celebrations this month, this year, and going forward. Black lives matter. Queer black lives matter.
To celebrate pride month this year I wanted to first do so by celebrating someone who helped make this month even possible: Marsha P. Johnson (press space/tap to see her photo). - - - - What is Pride Month? According to the Library of Congress, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month (LGBT Pride Month) is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. The Stonewall riots were a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as “Gay Pride Day,” but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the “day” soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBT Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. - - - - Artwork: Created in Illustrator, inspired by a photo of Marsha P. Johnson which is included in the project Music: "Same Love" (guitar cover) by Kelly Valleau | song originally by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis + featuring Mary Lambert
