Celebrating Pride Month: A Colorful Journey of Love and Acceptance!
Worldwide, June is celebrated as Pride Month. This is a time when people around the world come together to celebrate love, acceptance, and diversity. To celebrate, we’ll explore the fascinating history behind Pride Month and discover why it’s an important celebration for kids and families everywhere.
The History of Pride
Pride Month traces its roots back to a historic event called the Stonewall Riots. In 1969, a bar called the Stonewall Inn in New York City became a gathering place for LGBTQIA+ individuals, who faced discrimination and unfair treatment at that time. Unfortunately, such establishments were often targeted by police. One night, when the police raided the bar, the patrons decided to stand up for their rights. Their resistance sparked a series of protests that led to the LGBTQIA+ rights movement. While a lot of progress has been made, the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights continues today. Recently, there has been a rise in anti-LGBTQIA+ policies and laws across the USA. Advocacy groups and individuals are working to secure and protect rights for LGBTQIA+ in America and abroad.
Love is Love
Pride Month is a celebration of love. People from all different backgrounds and walks of life come together to support and embrace the LGBTQIA+ community. Families play a crucial role in Pride Month, as parents, siblings, and friends show their love and acceptance to their LGBTQIA+ loved ones. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
Diversity and Inclusion
Pride Month is also a celebration of diversity and inclusion. It reminds us that each person is unique and should be celebrated for who they are. The LGBTQIA+ community is made up of people with different backgrounds, races, cultures, and abilities. Pride Month parades, festivals, and events take place worldwide. These are opportunities for people to proudly express themselves, fostering a sense of belonging and acceptance for all.
Symbols of Pride
You might have noticed the vibrant rainbow flags waving in the streets during the month of June. Rainbows, as well as unicorns, are often seen during Pride Month. The rainbow flag is a powerful symbol of LGBTQIA+ pride. It was created in 1978 by artist Gilbert Baker, with each color representing something special, like red for life, orange for healing, and blue for harmony. In 2017, the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs added black and brown stripes to represent BIPOC individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community. Daniel Quasar, a Portland, Oregon-based artist designed an updated version of Philadelphia’s flag, the Progress Pride Flag, in 2018. This version incorporated the pink and blue Trans Pride flag into the design. Most recently, Valentino Vecchietti added elements of the Intersex Pride flag. Other versions of Pride flags are used by different groups within the LGBTQIA+ community. Unicorns are often associated with magic and uniqueness and have also been embraced as a symbol of LGBTQIA+ pride.
Allyship and Support
Being an ally means standing up for others and supporting them, even if we don’t belong to their community. Pride Month is an opportunity for everyone, including kids and families, to become allies to the LGBTQIA+ community. To be an informed ally, do your research. Learn all you can about the LGBTQIA+ community, keep informed about policies and laws that target or affect LGBTQIA+ individuals and groups, and use inclusive and appropriate language.
Pride Month is a time for love, acceptance, and celebration. It’s a time when the world comes together to support and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community. We encourage everyone to embrace the values of equality and respect, showing love and support to our LGBTQIA+ friends, family members, and neighbors. By promoting acceptance, understanding, and love, we can create a world where everyone feels safe and celebrated for who they are.
Remember, it’s important to continue learning and growing as we celebrate Pride Month. Here are some resources to learn more:
Defining LGBTQ+ Words for Elementary School Students
How to Explain Pride Month to Your Child
Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement
Pride Explained for Kids (video)
Why is the Pride Flag Rainbow? (video)
ACLU Know Your Rights: LGBTQ Rights