The Stonewall bar in Greenwich Village was a gay bar in the 1960s, a time when gay bars were being harassed and raided by police.
On the morning of June 28, 1969 the police raided the bar, roughing up patrons and arresting 13 people.
Fed up with the constant abuse and social discrimination, angry people gathered around the bar inciting a full blown riot. The riot lasted for 6 days. This event was known as the Stonewall uprising.
Even though the riots did not start the gay rights movement, it was a strong force for LGBT political activism, leading the way for the creation of many gay rights organizations around the world.
The LGBT activists realized that in order to get things accomplished they needed to be louder and more visible.
In 1970 on the one-year anniversary of the riot, an annual march was organized. Thousands of people participated in a "no dress or no age regulations" march in the streets of Manhattan from the Stonewall Inn to Central Park. It was then called “Christopher Street Liberation Day,”. America’s first Gay Pride parade. A demonstration like no other.
This approach was to make a drastic statement and a change from the current methods used by LGBT activists who would host walks and vigils in silence with a required dress code: men in jackets and ties and women in dresses.
The Gay Pride parade’s official chant was: “Say it loud, gay is proud.”
Gay Pride parades were also held in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and eventually in hundreds of cities around the world.
In many cities the celebrations will go on for a week or more.
1999 - President Clinton issued the first ever proclamation declaring June as Gay and Lesbian Pride month.
2001 - President G.W. Bush did not continue the tradition.
2009 - President Obama restarted it.
2023 - This year's theme is LOOKING BACK AND MOVING FORWARD
2023 - 53nd Annual San Francisco Pride celebration is Saturday and Sunday, June 24 & 25 - 11am - 6pm. The Parade will be on Sunday, June 25, starting at 10am on Market Street at Embarcadero.
https://sfpride.org has more information
We can all support the LGBTQ community, mark your calanders! #gaypride #gaypridecelebration #gaypridemonth #pridemonth #pride
Comments