The Stonewall Inn located in the heart of Greenwich village in New York City was a popular gay bar that was one of the only safe havens for the LGBTQ+ community in the city. Often facing brutality and discrimination from police and the public, on the morning of June 28, 1969, those at the Stonewall Inn decided to fight back with a series of riots to stand for their rights. These riots led to the establishment of the first gay pride parade, with a march called the “Christopher Street Liberation Day” to commemorate the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. There were many more people participating in the march than the organizers had predicted with over 2000 participants and even additional marches occurring around the country in cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago. Five decades later, those marches have transformed into annual Pride Parades held during June that boast large crowds of joyous demonstrators. But even with these popular parades, our world still isn’t a perfect haven for the LGBTQ+ community. Respect and equality are values still being fought for each and every day—which needs to start with organizations, educators, and most importantly, you.
Practicing equality is just as important as promoting it. Becoming an ally of the LGBTQ+ community is important for the safety and well being of everyone. To bring attention to the LGBTQ+ community and to curate a more accepting and loving population, the month of June is designated as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Scroll through Instagram, turn on the television, or stroll past clothing stores and you’ll see an overflow of “pride”. “Pride” that is commonly seen in the form of music, rainbow flags and large celebrations. But LGBTQ+ month represents much more and pride runs deeper than what you see on Instagram. Beyond wearing rainbow colors, we need to celebrate and propagate equality all year round and in all forms, which each of us can easily do.
Be a listener. Even if you do not identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community, it doesn’t mean that you can’t help or be an ally, but it also means that you may not be aware of or educated on what the community experiences. In a world where so much focus is on our differences, it is important to sit back and listen to different perspectives and everyone’s own experiences. There is no doubt that the culture and celebrations surrounding pride month are positive, but it is important to remember that being an LGBTQ+ ally goes beyond a single month. It means being respectful at all times and to everyone and anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+. Being an ally doesn’t mean that you get to pick and choose who you are accepting of or who you support, you have to go beyond just supporting celebrities in the media and extend your love and support to everyone who needs it.
Even in 2019, the world still isn’t the most accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. Many still live in fear and ignorance of what they don’t know. Letting yourself have an open mind and supporting proper LGBTQ+ education is crucial to fostering understanding and respect between all. The Stonewall Riots stand as only one piece of LGBTQ+ history, a history filled with challenges but also strides towards progress. By being open to learning about others, we can make grow closer towards equality. Be honest about what you don’t understand and seek to understand it. Listen to different perspectives and stories in a respectful manner, without making assumptions of the LGBTQ+ community.
Yes, supporting legislation and donating to organizations is a vital step in achieving equality. But going beyond the surface, trying to understand and enact change on a local and personal scale is the only way true equality and love will last—beyond June, beyond 2019, but for good.
