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June: The Most Prideful Month Of The Year

"So let me be clear: I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me." ~Tim Cook

Jordyn Lesler

Jun 18, 2020

Pennsylvania State University

June: The Most Prideful Month Of The Year

Photo by Tayla Kohler on Unsplash

From June 1-June 30, people in America celebrate themselves and each other for never apologizing for who they are, and the word "pride" is a perfect fit. People of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other) community have worked long and hard for acceptance in this country. While everyone recognizes June as "Pride Month", some people may ask; why June? Whether you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community or just a supporter, it is important to know the history.

Pre-Stonewall Inn

While the Stonewall Riot is probably the most well-known protest of the gay rights movement, it is not the first. Throughout the early 1900s, people continuously fought for gay rights and for people of the LGBTQ community to even be considered as actual human beings. The Society for Human Rights, founded in 1924, is the first known organization in America that spoke out for gay rights but was removed by police only a year later. In 1955, "The Daughters of Bilitis", the first lesbian rights organization was created in San Fransisco, California.

Only a few years before the Stonewall Riots, the Mattachine, another gay rights organization, protested at taverns where people would openly say their sexuality. The members of the organization threatened to sue bar owners and employees if they refused service.

The Stonewall Inn

Located in Greenwich Village in New York City, the Stonewall Inn has been historically known as a gay bar and club, which opened in 1967. While the original building was only running for about 2 years, in February of 2000 it was named a National Historic Landmark.

Throughout the 20th Century, it was not an easy time to be part of the LGBTQ community, whether a person was fully out or if they were closeted. Up until the 60s, there were really no laws protecting people of the community. When the Stonewall Inn opened as an openly gay bar and club, it became a staple for the gay community in New York. It was very popular as well to drag queens, as it was one of the few places that accepted them.

This bar, like many others at the time, was owned by the Mafia. This meant that overall for the bar, it never got into any real trouble, as the family could keep things hidden from the police before raids. It also meant that bar owners could blackmail customers for money, but also gave people a heads up before any raids started.

On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn was raided, but this time there was no heads up from the police, just a riot in the early morning. With a warrant, police began to go through the bar arresting employees and customers for illegal alcohol, as it was not allowed in the state to serve the LGBTQ community. In total there were 13 people arrested for "cross-dressing"; officials even went as far as sending an officer into bathrooms to check the sex of the people using it.

Awaiting them outside were angry neighborhood residents and patrons of the Stonewall Inn. As things started to get increasingly more violent, an officer hit a lesbian over the head in an attempted to get her into the patrol car. This caused an uproar within the crowd as some decided to hide in the actual bar, but the mob tried to set it ablaze. Even though the NYFD rescued the people inside the bar and put out the flames, protests happened for almost a week after the initial riot.

After the riots, many new organizations supporting gay rights had risen throughout the United States. A year after the riot, people marched from the Stonewall Inn through Central Park, marking it the first pride parade in New York City.

Same-Sex Marriage

Even though people in the LGBTQ community have become more and more accepted around the world and in America, they still struggled for basic rights. One of which was the legal procedure of getting married. Due to the 10th Amendment in the United States Constitution that separates federal and state laws, not all states allowed same-sex marriages.

It was not until June 26, 2015, under President Barack Obama, that same-sex marriage became legal in all 50 states and the United States territories.

Also, on June 15, 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that Civil Rights protects all members of the LGBTQ community from any type of discrimination in the workplace.

Throughout the past 51 years, the month of June has been extremely significant to the LGBTQ community. It is a month of triumph and celebration that spreads through the entire country. It is important in times like these to love and accept one another no matter what. Always remember: love wins and never be ashamed of who you are.

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