LGBTQ Pride Month, explained
A month of celebration, protest, and political activism.
Updated by German Lopez@germanrlopezgerman.lopez@vox.com Jun 1, 2017, 11:20am EDT
Get ready for the rainbows. June is LGBTQ Pride Month, which means Americans around the country should expect some colorful marches throughout the month as people make a stand for equality.
In recent years, the month has been marked by celebration — over the US Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide, as well as some of the other progress made in LGBTQ rights in broader American politics and culture.
This year, Pride celebrations fall in a markedly different atmosphere. Although LGBTQ advocates have seen big gains in recent years, the election of President Donald Trump and state-level initiatives against LGBTQ rights — such as bills in North Carolina and Texas to stop transgender people from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity — have shown just how fragile these gains can be.
The less friendly political climate, however, is in line with the original Pride marches, which were often protests — not celebrations — in response to the violence and brutality that LGBTQ people faced at the hands of their fellow Americans, police, and the government. It speaks to the mixed nature of LGBTQ Pride Month: It's a time to celebrate a person's true identity, but it's also a time to stake some ground in the ongoing political and cultural battles for equality.
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https://www.vox.com/2014/6/8/5786368/lgbt-gay-pride-month
