LGBT Pride Month occurs in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred June 28, 1969.

As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBT people have had in the world. Bisexual activist Brenda Howard is known as the “Mother of Pride”, for her work in coordinating the first LGBT Pride march, and she also originated the idea for a week-long series of events around Pride Day which became the genesis of the annual LGBT Pride celebrations that are now held around the world every June. Additionally, Howard along with the bisexual activist Robert A. Martin (aka Donny the Punk) and gay activist L. Craig Schoonmaker are credited with popularizing the word “Pride” to describe these festivities. Bisexual activist Tom Limoncelli later stated, “The next time someone asks you why LGBT Pride marches exist or why [LGBTQ] Pride Month is June tell them ‘A bisexual woman named Brenda Howard thought it should be.'”

“I call upon all Americans to observe this month by fighting prejudice and discrimination in their own lives and everywhere it exists.” – Proclamation 8529 by U.S President Barack Obama, May 28, 2010. Two presidents of the United States have officially declared a pride month. First, President Bill Clinton declared June “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month” in 1999 and 2000. Then from 2009 to 2016, each year he was in office, President Barack Obama declared June LGBT Pride Month. Donald Trump became the first Republican president to acknowledge LGBT Pride Month in 2019, but he did so through tweeting rather than an official proclamation. Beginning in 2012, Google displayed some LGBT-related search results with different rainbow-colored patterns each year during June. In 2017, Google also included rainbow coloured streets on Google Maps to display Gay Pride marches occurring across the world. Pride month is not recognized internationally as pride celebrations take place in many other places at different times, including in the months of February, August, and September.

Links:
June is LGBT Pride Month

This Pride Month, and all year round, join United Nations Free & Equal in the fight against transphobia & homophobia

LGBTQ Pride Month and Education Resources