Honoring Pride Month: A Legacy of Resistance, Love & Liberation

Every June, rainbow flags fill the streets, parades bloom with joy and celebration, and love is boldly affirmed in every form. But behind the vibrant colors of Pride Month lies a story built on resistance, rooted in the struggle for freedom, safety, and dignity—especially for those whose identities sit at the intersections of race, gender, and queerness.

A Brief History of Pride Month

Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969, when queer and trans patrons of the Stonewall Inn in New York City—many of them Black and Brown—stood up against police brutality and systemic harassment. These protests weren’t the beginning of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, but they ignited a fire that would fuel decades of activism.

One of the most iconic figures of this uprising was Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman and drag queen who, alongside Sylvia Rivera, a Latinx trans activist, helped spark the movement that continues to evolve today. Marsha’s courage and unapologetic existence in the face of oppression made her a pillar in the fight for queer liberation. She co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) to support homeless trans youth and was a tireless advocate for those most often erased.

Black queer leaders like Bayard Rustin, the strategist behind the 1963 March on Washington, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a transgender elder and prison abolitionist, also paved the way for both civil rights and LGBTQ+ justice—though their names are still too often left out of mainstream conversations.

Why Pride Still Matters—Especially Now

Pride was never just about parties—it was (and still is) protest. And today, that spirit of resistance is needed more than ever.

Across the U.S. and around the world, we’re witnessing a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric. Trans youth are being targeted, healthcare access is being stripped away, and drag performers—especially those of color—are being demonized. This isn’t just policy. It’s a coordinated effort to erase identities and undo the progress generations fought for.

It’s important to know this history so we don’t take our present for granted—and to realize that the fight isn’t over. Celebrating Pride means uplifting the voices most marginalized, protecting each other, and standing firmly in solidarity across communities.

Honoring the Legacy, Protecting the Future

Pride is powerful because it says: You deserve to exist fully, freely, and without fear. And that power multiplies when we remember who fought before us—and who still needs us to fight now.

Let this month be more than a moment. Let it be a memory, a movement, and a mirror reflecting our shared responsibility. Whether you're LGBTQIA+ or a loving ally, now is the time to show up—not just in June, but every single day.

Happy Pride Month. In honor of Marsha, Miss Major, Bayard, and every soul who dared to live loudly—this celebration is for you. This fight is for us.