The first gay pride parade was inspired by
The involvement of businesses in Pride events is sometimes called ‘commercialisation’. Similarly, reflecting upon how the Pride movement was started ensures that Pride month today still honours and belongs to the LGBTQ+ community rather than the big businesses that might pay for some events. Learning about how LGBTQ+ rights were won illuminates the importance of continuing to campaign for the rights of all LGBTQ+ people. Moreover, former US President Donald Trump took steps to roll back the protection of healthcare rights for transgender people. Being LGBTQ+ is still illegal in 74 countries, and is punishable by death in 12 of them.
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The LGBTQ+ activist charity Stonewall states that whilst ‘there is lots for us to celebrate there’s also a lot more work to be done’.
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Pride Month commemorates the June 1969 Stonewall Riots. This is an event which takes place in a different global city every year - in 2019, the WorldPride in New York City was estimated to have been attended by over 4 million people. This is a huge expansion from the first Pride parade held in New York, where police reports suggest there were around 2,000 attendees! In 2000, for example, WorldPride was founded. Pride celebrations have grown and diversified since the first parades in the early 1970s. From parades and concerts, to workshops and exhibitions, the events of Pride month enable LGBTQ+ people and allies to celebrate their genders and sexualities, discuss LGBTQ+ history, and advocate for further change. Pride is an annual global event which is celebrated every June. This guide reflects on the origins of the movement, and considers how the history of Pride can help shape how we celebrate in the present. Pride is a month-long celebration of LGBTQ+ lives, history and culture.