June is Pride Month

During the month of June, you see and hear about Pride events and parades. More people fly flags that show support for the LGBTQ+ community, they wear t-shirts with supportive messages, and they might attend one of the events. Whether or in the LGBTQ+ community, or an ally, it is important to remember that it is as much a protest as it is a party. 
 

Pride was created as an annual reminder of the Stonewall Riots that occurred in New York City in June of 1969. Raids at gay bars were common and constant in the 1960’s and preceding decades. The raid at the Stonewall Inn sparked a riot among the neighborhood residents and the bar patrons leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement. The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. 
 

There is a lot of history that led up to the Stonewall Riots, and in the 56 years that have passed since that time. This piece is in no way intended to serve as a short-cut to learning about and understanding the degradation, oppression and discrimination of the LGBTQ+ community in the United States. Information and understanding are key to uniting us, and hopefully you are inspired to read a little deeper. 
 

A big question to ask during the Pride month, and the rest of the year is how can allies show their support of the LGBTQ+ community? First, we have understand what an ally is because having gay friends or relatives doesn’t automatically make you an ally. Here are some examples of what it means to be an LGBTQ+ ally:

•    Shield LGBTQ+ people from hate. Step up in the face of any queerphobia you see and support the LGBTQ+ community (even if there are no LGBTQ+ people present!) 
•    Don’t speak on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, follow LGBTQ+ people’s lead in the fight for their liberation. 
•    Support LGBTQ+ events, businesses, charities, groups and social justice initiatives all year round.
•    Encourage LGBTQ+ inclusion in your workplace, and among your friends and family. 
•    Vote for leaders who support LGBTQ+ liberation.
•    Donate to LGBTQ+ causes.

Remember that Pride is a deeply meaningful month for LGBTQ+ people. Treat people kindly and respectfully. Don’t interrogate people about their identities. If you question what you are told or see, you can always Google it later. If you do attend Pride events, don’t out people when you are in other spaces. Pride events are supposed to be safe spaces. 
 

Most important of all, remember that people are people. Who we love, how we identify or how we express ourselves doesn’t change that. Celebrate Pride in June but be an ally all twelve months.
 

Resourced from Dr. Christopher Owen, Manchester Pride and History.