The Origins of Pride
Happy Pride Month!
While many people assume it's just an explosion of rainbows and rowdy parties, there's a deeper history to Pride than meets the eye.
LGBTQIA+ Rights in the 1950s and 1960s
During the 1950s and 1960s, the United States was a highly repressive legal and social period for the LGBTQIA+ community. In 1969, being gay was considered a criminal offense! Additionally, being queer was seen as a mental illness. Police raids were widespread at local bars and restaurants where LGBTQIA+ communities gathered.
The Stonewall Riots: A Catalyst for Change
On an early morning in June, the police raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City. Over the next few nights, riots and protests occurred. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were two women on the front lines fighting against police brutality.
Marsha P. Johnson was one of the most prominent figures of the gay rights movement in New York City. She fought for the inclusion of transgender and BIPOC individuals in the early gay rights movement. Her goal was to see queer folks liberated, free, and have the same level of equity as other people in the United States.
The First Pride March and What It Means Today
One year later, the first Gay Pride march in Central Park occurred to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. These riots were a catalyst for the modern LGBTQIA+ movements in our current era. Pride has been seen as an official proclamation since 1999.
Pride was, and always will be, a celebration to push back against police brutality, equitable rights, identity, inclusion, and belonging. This Pride month, remember to honor our queer ancestors who fought for us to be where we are today.
Resist. Riot. Be loud, be proud, take up space.
If you're looking for an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist who truly gets it, Balance and Boundaries offers virtual queer mental health support across Colorado and Oregon. Pride Month is a powerful time to take that first step, schedule a free consultation and let's talk.
Sources:
Pride month: A history of resistance - national LGBTQ task force. (n.d.).
https://www.thetaskforce.org/news/pride-month-a-history-of-resistance/
Housman, P. (2026, June 10). The first Pride was a riot: The origins of pride month | american university, Washington, DC. American University Washington DC.
https://www.american.edu/cas/news/the-first-pride-was-a-riot.cfm
Marsha P . Johnson | national women’ s history museum. National Women’s History Museum . (2022).
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/marsha-p-johnson
The history of Pride Month – NCEED. Morgan State University National Center for the Elimination of Educational Disparities . (2024).
