#Campaign

June is LGBTQ Pride Month with events typically taking place all month, especially between the 14th and 28th. And June 2020 marks Pride’s 50th anniversary. The celebration started in 1970 with the Christopher Street Liberation Day March held to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York. The Stonewall Riots were a five-day protest by gay community members and gay rights activists against long-suffered harassment and discrimination. They helped solidify the gay rights movement across the nation and became a symbol of resistance for the LGBTQ community.

Today Pride Month has become a celebration, known for rainbows and joyous carousing, but at its heart is still a social and political movement that continues to beat loud for important human rights. While in-person Pride celebrations had to be canceled or postponed this year, Pride itself can never be canceled. 

Pride is about the freedom of love, self-expression, and acceptance. And when you think of that, Pride month couldn’t come at a better time. As we head into an election year amidst critical social change, there’s more at stake now than ever to keep Pride going, not just this month, but throughout the year. Here’s how!

Celebrate with the world

Though in-person events have been canceled or postponed due to social distancing, many Pride celebrations around the world are going virtual this year. This does change the overall experience, but if you’re looking for a rainbow lining, consider this: for the first time ever, people anywhere in the world, even socially conservative cities and countries, can participate in the Pride celebrations. 

Two cities at either end of the U.S. and renowned for their Pride celebrations are going all out virtually. New York Pride will stream a three-day, virtual drag shows June 19th through June 21st, with over 100 performers, host a virtual rally and human rights conference, and end with a special broadcast on June 28th. In place of their famous celebration and parade, San Francisco Pride will go online June 27th & 28th with over 13 hours of streamed programming, including a rally and celebrated hosts. 

And for somewhere in between, from Seattle to Phoenix, Chicago to Atlanta, check-out Travel & Leisure’s Guide 2020 for info on both virtual events and those celebrations being rescheduled for later this year for in-person gatherings. Be sure to also check out the Global Pride event taking place virtually on June 27th. 

Celebrate at home

In addition to attending a virtual celebration, take this month to also celebrate and support the LGBTQ community closer to home. 

First and foremost, fly the rainbow. 🏳️‍🌈 Hang those rainbow flags, have the kids chalk up the sidewalks with rainbows, string multi-colored lights, and put up a rainbow of balloons. Let everyone know that social distancing doesn’t mean social regression. The rainbow is out and proud!

Then get serious. Julie and Dre, a gay couple in Arizona, suggest that if you’re not already, use Pride month as a motivation to support businesses and shops owned by openly gay owners. “This is a challenging time economically and your support could make a huge difference for them. Order takeaway food or visit a queer-run bar or restaurant. Pull together an amazing new look with an outfit from a queer-run store. Buy books and art from LGBTQ creatives.”

Then get ready to have some fun! You may not be able to attend a parade but consider a dance party in your driveway, backyard, or over Zoom. Or head out with friends for a celebratory picnic. (Both great opportunities to hire a local photographer for a contactless photoshoot!) And if you’re more of a homebody, indulge in an LGBTQ movie marathon!

Want more ideas, check out the Human Rights Center!

Celebrate all year long

Pride is about celebrating the hard-earned freedoms of love and expression that none of us should take for granted, nor stop celebrating at the end of June. For the LGBTQ community, pride is strong all year long and it should be the same for allies. If you’re not queer but want to continue to support your LGBTQ brothers and sisters in July, August, and onward, then keep the celebration going. As Julie and Dre shared, “We love that there’s a whole month we call Pride Month, but the other 11 months out of the year we want to feel safe and included too.”

Don’t just make an effort to buy from gay-owned businesses in June, but year-round. Continue supporting the community by regularly reading their books, buying their art, eating at their restaurants, and so forth. If you’re an ally and business owner, consider hanging a permanent Pride sticker in your window. Julie and Dre spotted them all over during a visit to Bisbee, Arizona, and said it made all the difference in feeling welcomed.

And above all, if you can, donate to LGBTQ charities that help do the work to truly protect these rights.

Learn more!

Above all, keep learning. 2020 has already been a year of intense learning and deep conversations that will continue into June and beyond. While Pride should be joyful, it’s always been about more than floats and parades and is more important than ever. Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ community or an ally, the best way to ensure rights remain secure is by staying educated, informed, and involved. 

If you don’t know the history of Pride, start at the Library of Congress and watch the Stonewall Uprising documentary on PBS. Continue finding ways to get involved and donate, starting with this LBGTQ Resource List. And when New York is ready to welcome visitors again, be sure to go on a Christopher Street Tour. 

However you celebrate Pride this June, let us help. Hire one of our local photographers to safely capture your celebrations or support a rainbow-colored dream by giving a Gift Card.