What is PRIDE all about?
LGBTQ+ Pride Month is celebrated each year during the month of June to acknowledge and honor the Stonewall Uprising in New York. (As noted by the STONEWALL Veterans’ Association, the reference to these events as the Stonewall Riots was initially used by police to justify their use of force.) Unprovoked police raids of LGBTQ+ establishments occurred frequently but when they raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, on June 28, 1969, members of the LGBTQ+ community fought back against the years of abuse, discrimination, and anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
While the Stonewall Uprising did not initiate the gay rights movement, it is widely considered to have galvanized the LGBTQ+ community and launched a new era in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. The name “Pride” was given to the month to encourage the feeling of pride as the LGBTQ+ community and allies gather to celebrate and support LGBTQ+ rights.
In acknowledgement of the significance that the Stonewall Uprising had on the LGBTQ+ rights movement, the Stonewall Inn was declared a historic landmark by the city of New York in 2015 and in 2016, President Barack Obama named it a national monument.
Pride events attract millions of participants to honor the Stonewall Uprising and to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have locally, nationally, and internationally. Pride also acknowledges the members of the community who have been lost to HIV/AIDS and hate crimes and draws attention to the issues, inequality, and discrimination that the LGBTQ+ community still faces today.
Pride celebrations are diverse and often include marches, parades, festivals, and concerts. As we celebrate Pride Month, there are several days in June that hold special significance.
- June 1 –LGBTQ+ Families Day
- June 5—HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness
- June 12—Pulse Night of Remembrance
- June 26—9th Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage
- June 27—National HIV testing Day
- June 28—Stonewall Uprising Anniversary
- June 30—Queer Youth of Faith Day
At UCF, we recognize and honor the LGBTQ+ community not only in June but throughout the year. Several visible ways include:
- Continuously flying the Progress flag outside our building
- Recognizing LGBTQ+ days of remembrance throughout the year
- Holding at least two LGBTQ+ related services per year
- Offering at least one LGBTQ+ related educational program
- Donating to local and statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy groups
- Maintaining our annual UUA “Welcoming Congregation” certification