As another pride month comes and goes we must reflect on how far our society has come since the time when people identifying themself as gay or associating with the LGBTQ was a punishable offence and was actively shunned by society.
Gay pride or LGBTQ pride is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender people as a social group. Pride, as opposed to shame movement and social stigma, is the predominant outlook that bolsters most LGBTQ rights movements. Even the LGBTQ flag common symbols are rainbows or pride flag, the lower case greek letter Lamba, the pink triangle and black triangle these latter two reclaimed from use as a badge of shame in Nazi concentration camps.
Ranging from solemn to carnivalesque, pride events are typically held during LGNTQ pride month eg. Maskow pride in may for the anniversary of Russian 1993 decriminalization of homosexuality. Some pride events also include LGBTQ pride parades, rallies, dance parties and festivals.
The term 'Gay Pride' was crafted by Thom Higgins a gay rights activist in Minnesota. Brenda Howard a bisexual activist is known as the 'Mother of Pride' for her work in coordinating the first Pride march in new york city, and also originated the idea for a week-long series of events around pride day which became the genesis of the annual LGBTQ pride celebration that are now held around the world every June.
Additionally, Howard along with bisexual activist Tom Limoncell later stated,' The next time someone asks you why LGBTQ pride marches exist or why pride month is June tell them 'A bisexual woman named BRENDA HOWARD thought it should be.
The 1950s and 1960s in the United States was an extremely repressive legal and social period for LGBTQ people.
The Anti -LGBTQ discourse of these times equated both male and female homosexuality with mental illness which inspired gay civil rights pioneer Frank Kameny to originate the slogan 'GAY IS GOOD' in 1968 to counter social stigma and personal feelings of guilt and shame.
But what the history of pride and pride culture in itself is trying to convey is the message of being proud to be out of the closet, on individual freedom, and on the diversity of the LGBTQ community and the main message being conveyed every pride month is being happy in your own skin and being unapologetically yourself.