How To Celebrate Pride Month Every Month
This past month, we have been celebrating pride. Pride is celebrated in June to commemorate the Stonewall uprising that occurred on June 28th, 1969, in New York City and was the catalyst for the Gay Liberation Movement. Even though Pride has been celebrated in June for over 50 years, President Bill Clinton officially declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride month in 2000.
This was then expanded to include the whole LGBTQ+ community in 2011 by President Barack Obama. As June’s celebration comes to an end, it is important to remember that the fight for LGTBQ+ rights and equality is far from over and there is a vast history of how we got where we are now. Even if you do not identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, you can still help fight for equal rights every month of the year and acceptance for everyone as an ally.
An ally is someone who may not identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community but still supports and fights for others who are part of the community.
Being an ally is an important job. Ally voices are incredibly powerful and can help spur monumental change in society. Anyone in your life may identify in the LGBTQ+ community, even if you do not know it. Regardless if you know someone personally, it is important to fight for equal rights and opportunities for all. Below is a brief list on how you can begin or continue your ally journey.
1. Educate yourself
Read, watch videos, talk to people in the community about pride and what it means to them. Talk to people about their experiences or any discrimination they might have faced. Make an effort to learn about the LGBTQ+ community. Learn about different pronouns, differences in sexualities or gender expressions. Research which large companies support anti- LGBTQ organizations and which ones do not. It is important to note that some people may not feel comfortable talking about their identity, so don’t push them. Listed below are some great resources to read up on to start learning more about LGBTQ and pride: Human right campaign, GLAAD, The Trevor Project.
2. Speak out against discrimination
People in the LGBTQ community face discrimination daily. LGBTQ youth are especially affected by this and 84% of LGBTQ youth have reported harassment based on their gender or sexual identity. If you see someone being mistreated because of the way they identify, stand up for them. Let them know that they are supported. Advocate for LGBTQ+ folks. And, if this occurs in a school setting, offer to talk to the principal or superintendent about what you saw.
3. Support LGBTQ+ owned businesses
If you decide to celebrate pride by going out with friends or attending a parade, try and shop at businesses owned by LGBTQ+ individuals. Obviously, it is convenient to go to Walmart or target to quickly buy rainbow themed items, but sometimes these large companies do not always support the community in ways you think.
4. Listen or read LGBTQ+ voices
There are tons of podcasts, books, blogs etc. written or recorded by people in the LGBTQ+ communities. Some talk about current events or pushback being received right now. Others talk about the history and struggles faced years ago. There is a topic out there that will spark your interest. And when it does, it’s important to hear directly from the people impacted. By doing this, not only are you supporting the LGBTQ+ community, but there is also valuable information and stories to learn about.
5. Don’t assume someone’s sexuality or gender identify
Our society is always evolving. Many people are also just starting to discover their true self. It is important to remember that someone may not feel comfortable coming out just yet or maybe they are still figuring out how they identify. Assuming pieces of someone identify put them in a box and labels them in a certain way that they might not feel comfortable with. Remember to keep an open mind as an ally and be respectful of someone’s journey.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of ways to be an ally but hopefully gives you an idea of how to start being an ally. There are many more way to fight for and support the LGBTQ+ community. Whether you are just starting to learn about ways to be an ally or have been part of the fight for equality for years, your voice matters and can make an impact.
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