Pride Month Explained: How it started, why it's observed in June, and what challenges does the community face?

Pride Month is starting on June 1, and countries will once again be discussing issues of the queer community, along with the opportunities, challenges and future of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

But before this special month begins, it is important to know what it is, how it all began, why it is held in June, how the month has evolved over the years, and how it is celebrated in India. 

What is Pride Month? 

'Pride Month' is a month, typically June, in which the experiences, struggles, and future of LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other) people are discussed. It is a month of discussion, celebration, and debate and is looked forward to by many members of the queer community. Although different countries celebrate Pride Month differently, many hold events and marches during this time period.

History: A riot started it all

Pride Month is celebrated in the United States and around the globe to mark what is now called the 'Stonewall Riots.' 

On 28 June 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City's Greenwich Village, a popular spot for the LGBTQIA+ community. The police roughed up the guests and herded several members of the community into police vans. Accustomed to a passive response from those they had arrested and the general public, the police acted with indifference as they raided the inn.

But that day was different. Many people who were outside the Stonewall Inn protested, eventually forcing the police to barricade themselves inside the bar and call for backup. 

Buoyed by the support and to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, activists decided to hold a Pride March on June 28, 1970. A large number of people joined in solidarity with the queer community, although estimates vary from 1,000 to 20,000 people. The slogan for that Pride March was “Say it clear, say it loud. Gay is good; Gay is proud.”

Evolution and Significance 

Pride Month, though originally started in the USA, is now celebrated across the world, with events being held across the globe to highlight the unique experiences and issues of the LGBTQIA+ community.

With the advent of social media, Pride Month is now also a period in which queer people and their allies advocate for better laws and protection without their physical presence. The recent death penalty imposed by Uganda for homosexuality was vehemently opposed by the queer community online. It is also likely to be in focus during this special month.

Also read | US issues global alert amid threat of violence against LGBTQ+ community ahead of Pride month

The Pride Flag, now a powerful symbol of queer solidarity, was unveiled on June 25, 1978, by Gilbert Baker during the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade. Each colour of the 'rainbow flag' represents something different and important to the community.

Indian Context 

Although India's queer rights history is much younger than that of its foreign counterparts, the country does have a vivid history of marches and demonstrations. The first Pride Parade in India was held on July 2, 1999, in Kolkata. This was the first such parade in all of South Asia. Surprisingly, now not just metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata hold pride parades, but over 21 Indian cities have held parades and marches, signifying growing support for the community in the country. This year too, the country will witness multiple events during Pride Month. 

Challenges Ahead 

There is now growing support for the LGBTQIA+ community across the globe, with 5 in 10 people surveyed saying that they support openly queer folks. In an interesting survey, the Pew Research Centre found out that 53 per cent of adults in India support marriage equality and its legalisation.

But despite the support, there remain growing challenges for the queer community. US officials have warned that terror organisations may try to target Pride events across the globe and have asked their citizens to 'exercise increased caution.' 

Recently, a Christian lifeguard sued the city of Los Angeles for 'severe emotional distress' after he was stationed near a Pride flag.

Significantly, Russia has added the LGBTQIA+ movement to its list of 'terror' and 'extremist' organisations. Two people have already been arrested by Russian authorities for being 'extremists.' Even the display of Pride symbols like rainbow flags, pins, and social media posts about the community are banned in the country. 

Also watch | Gravitas: The history of America's pride movement

64 countries still criminalise homosexuality, and 12 countries have the death penalty as the punishment for consensual same-sex sexual activity. 

In the US, there's opposition to gender-affirming care, and marriage equality and globally, there's debate over the use of pronouns other than one's birth gender. Violence involving queer community members as victims or perpetrators is more frequent than ever. The most tragic such event was the Pulse nightclub terror attack of 2016 in Florida.

As some countries are increasingly becoming intolerant towards the queer community, the celebration, discussion, and debate in this year's Pride Month are all the more important.