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.
