Pride Month: What is it and why we celebrate it
Every year, throughout June (which is officially known as Pride Month), people from all around the world come together to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and call for recognition for their basic human rights. Pride Month celebration is about uniting, loving, and teaching inclusion. It is an opportunity to honour how far the LGBTQ+ community has come, even though there is still a lot of work to be done.
Regardless of whether you live in a country where LGBTQ+ community members can live and enjoy equality amongst their peers or not, it is extremely important to show firm support for those who are fighting for their rights. Pride Month highlights the importance of small and big gestures that need to be done to spread awareness regarding social matters such as the right to same-sex marriages and adoption, or against discrimination in healthcare, housing, or employment.
A brief history of Pride Month
But let’s go back in time and remind everyone how it all started and why it is important to be vocal about demanding recognition of LGBTQ+ individuals' human rights. The first Pride Month celebration was to honour the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, New York which marked the beginning of the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. It took place on its anniversary in 1971, where people gathered and marched along Sixth Avenue from Greenwich Village to Central Park, chanting, “Say it clear, say it loud! Gay is good, gay is proud!”.
Who was involved
Brenda Howard is amongst the most significant figures who ought to have an honorary mention as she is considered to be the ‘mother’ of Pride. While she vigorously supported the antiwar and feminist movements, she was also active in the Gay Liberation Front and Gay Activists Alliance (of which she served as chair for several years). In July 1969, Howard organised a one-month Stonewall anniversary rally. One year after Stonewall, she organised Gay Pride Week and the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade with a committee.
Since then, Pride Month has been celebrated all over the world, and its scale is nearly incomparable to how it looked at the very beginning of its existence. According to police reports, during the first Pride Month march, there were roughly 2,000 attendees, whilst in 2019, the WorldPride in New York City published that almost 4 million people attended the march.
The meaning behind the first pride month flag
One of Pride Month's landmark moments was the unveiling of its colourful flag. Although we now have over 20 different LGBTQ+ flags that represent the voices of the individuals they stand for, the first and most popular one was designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978. The flag combines 8 different colours, with each holding a specific meaning: pink symbolising sex, red equaling life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic and art, blue for serenity, and violet representing the spirit of LGBTQ+ people.
We still have a long way to go to ensure inclusivity and equity
Even though it might seem like we have overcome some major challenges, it is important to note that we still need to be vocal and continue to raise awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. In 2020, American lawmakers proposed a record of 238 bills that would limit LGBTQ+ American citizens. Throughout the past 4 years, this number has been increasing constantly. This shows that, despite the US being the birthplace of pride month, it still needs the affirmation of why we cannot allow certain regulations to come to life, such as limiting trans people's access to participate in sports, restricting LGBTQ+ issues in school curriculums and receiving gender-affirming health care.
Be authentic with Ikigai Authentic
Pride Month is about being proud of who you are no matter how you identify yourself: it is about being authentic. Here at Ikigai Authentic, we are proud to be part of a community and allies that supports all members of the LGBTQ+ community, and also take a clear stand for equity and recognition of social injustice. Employment discrimination is not a matter that can be overlooked and dismissed. It requires firm solutions and actions to eliminate homophobic behaviours from the corporate industry. During Pride Month 2022, we will be dedicating our content to increasing and spreading awareness of how together we can overcome such challenges and create healthier and more inclusive workplaces.
If you are looking for a trusted partner that can help your business to embrace the awareness of why it is important and beneficial for your company to become more inclusive, get in touch with our dedicated team of experts who will fill you in. This pride month is an ideal time to begin your journey with Ikigai Authentic to show your support for the LGBTQ+ community.
