Each June, Pride Month is celebrated to honor LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Allies) culture, history, and achievements, and to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights. Throughout Pride Month, millions of individuals throughout the world participate in parades, festivals, and celebrations of life, as well as demonstrations and awareness campaigns to give voice to the issues currently facing the LGBTQIA+ community.
Pride Month is celebrated in June to coincide with the commemoration of the Stonewall Uprisings, a series of events between police and LGBTQIA+ protesters that fundamentally changed LGBTQIA+ activism in the United States. The Stonewall Uprising took place in June 1969, a time when the LGBTQIA+ community persistently faced threats of violence and arrest. Gay and lesbian-friendly bars and clubs were the few locations the community could hope to gather in public and be themselves without harassment; however, raids of these locations were frequent.
On June 28, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in New York City. Patrons of the club rallied against the intrusion, resisting arrest and sparking six days of protests outside the club and in the neighborhood.
The Stonewall Inn was declared a historic landmark by the city of New York in 2015 and later named a national monument in 2016, becoming the first U.S. National Monument dedicated to LGBT rights and history.
Photo Credit: Ted Eytan.
While the Stonewall Uprisings are well-known, there is a long history of LGBTQIA+ activism in the United States. Some of these lesser-publicized events include:
- Pepper Hill Club Resistance, Baltimore, Maryland in 1955.
- Coopers Do-Nut Café Resistance, Los Angeles, California, October 1959
- Black Nite Tavern Resistance, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 5, 1961
- Compton's Cafeteria Resistance, San Francisco, California, 1966
- Black Cat Tavern Protests, Los Angeles, California, February 11, 1967
Many members and supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community have contributed to advancing the rights of the community and creation of resources to support the community. Pride Month celebrates all who have contributed and continue to contribute to creating acceptance of all in the LGBTQIA+ Community.
Join the UMPO DEIA Team for“Reflection on the Stonewall Uprising” on June 3 at 12:00 noon in recognition of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month.
During this one-hour event, we will watch, “Stonewall: The Making of a Monument," a 20-minute documentary by Cheryl Furjanic of the New York Times. Following the video, we will have a discussion hosting by John Dunlap, the Chief HR Officer for the UMass President’s Office. We encourage you to register and participate in this event.
Questions?
Please contact the DEIA Communications team with any questions or feedback.