Our society has evolved from unknown to known when it comes to gender diversity. There has been an extensive history of revolution, transformation, and breaking away from conventional ideas of what a general gender looks like. It has not been easy for many individuals who are part of the LGBT+ community and fall under one of these gender categories due to religious and conventional acceptance of gender by birth. Embracing ourselves we definitely do not need anyone’s permission or acceptance. We are born free and free to express ourselves in any way that makes us feel complete in it.
However, that being said, it’s important to cherish this diversity in general so that people who think these genders are forbidden may come to know the significance of accepting these diversities. More importantly, it’s uniting the community where individuals can come and share their struggles and pain together, and love together. These pride month days are important because all these individuals need to feel proud of who they are. It’s as simple as clear water. Imagine having your own identity that defines your sexuality but you have to keep it hidden because you don’t want to be the victim of social rejection. Well, not anymore. You don’t need to victimize yourself by thinking about what people may say about your gender.
What significant changes took place to celebrate Pride Month Days
Firstly Pride Month is celebrated in June each year, this is to support the LGBT+ community. To bring light on their equality, acceptance, and visibility, and that their sexuality is a human right in general.
These pride month days are no doubt pride days for those individuals who have been brave enough to come out and speak about their gender, who have been wronged, and who have been struggling against societal norms on defined genders. These pride days are the time we embrace our diverse sexual orientation and gender identity and feel the freedom to express ourselves with authenticity.
The first dawning sign of this liberation took place in June 1969 with Stonewall Riots, a protest made by the gay community against the police raid at the gay bar. This protest happened for a few consecutive days. It was momentum since more than 2,000 people participated to protest against the injustice towards the community. Since then the gay community has never backed down to celebrate these days. The first pride march took place on Junes 28, 1970 to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots and mainly to advocate the fight for gay liberation. Henceforth in 1999, former US President Bill Clinton declared the Stonewall Riots anniversary to commemorate the month of June in America as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. Further in the year 2011, President Barack Obama gave official recognition to Pride Month including the whole of the LBGT community.
Since the commemoration of the first anniversary, Pride Month has been celebrated worldwide. These celebrations are held in different parades, rallies, and events, that encompass to complete the cherish of this Pride Month Days. However, it’s important to keep in mind that these celebrations are a way to strengthen the LGBT+ community and further advocate their rights. One can almost say as the year 1969 was the pride month day calendar. This was where the pride movement began.
The Aftermath of the LGBT+ Community After the Stonewall Riots
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The Year 1972 in London
It was indeed inevitable that after the Stonewall riots, a few years later with the worldwide impact of the riot, in 1972 London held its first Gay Pride. The “carnival parade” was held from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square London. However, in the present time, the celebration has changed a lot from encountering violent protest and hostility of society to now with the exotic representation of the gay community, with music, make-up, costume, floats, and a communal feeling.
In 1978, during London’s Gay Pride Week, a fierce protest occurred at the popular Royal Vauxhall Tavern pub. Where the protest did not give in to the general hostility against the community but with loud slogans that echoed throughout the city. “Gay is fun, Gay is proud; Gay is beautiful.” Since then transformation has been taking place when it comes to the LGBT+ community’s rights and acceptance in society. The event added a great contribution to pride month days.
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The Year 1978 San Francisoc
The year became prominent due to the designed flat to represent the LGBT+ community made by the artist Gilbert Baker for a march in the city. The flag design was commissioned by Harvey Milk. He was the first openly gay man and was also elected as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in California city of the USA. The flag was embedded with initially eight different colours of stripes and there were stacked horizontally, with a rainbow effect which irresistibly caught the attention of many who saw it. Since then it has become the symbol of LGBT people around the world. The revised version of the flag has six different colour stripes now and it’s used worldwide to represent the LGBT community. However, unfortunately, he was assassinated later that year but the flag has continued to reign.
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The Year 1999 Kolkata, India
It was the first-ever march under the theme “The Friendship Walk” that took place in India just hardly fifteen people joined the pride walk. Some of these participants were from different cities such as Mumbai and Bangalore. Thus, 2 July 1999 marked the beginning of the fight for equality and acceptance of different gender. The pride walk took place with a beautiful demonstration with yellow t-shirts with the caption “Walk on the Rainbow.” The participants included some good figures, Ashok Row Kavi, Nitin Karani, Pawan Dhall, Rafique-UI- Haque-Dowjah-Ranjan, and Owais Khan.
Nevertheless, with the help of a lot of NGOs and popular activists, the pride walk received a lot of support and media coverage as well.
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21st Century Celebration of Pride
Despite the challenges the LGBT+ community experience from being unknown to becoming known has gone through a lot of years of major protests all over the world. even in the 21st century. Although the community has received a lot of media coverage and attention they still tend to struggle for full acceptance and identity in our society. The survey conducted by Trades Union Congress revealed that 42% of LGBT people still experience a certain kind of unfriendly gesture or comments about their sexual orientation.
Needless to say, the Pide March has received a lot of recognition through the medium of sponsorship and media ads. For instance, the major brands gladly welcome seeing the logo customised with the stripes of the rainbow flag on their banners and TV ads.
The blend of colours, gender, equality, and the fashion industry are greatly promoting this diversity and acceptance. This adds an advantage to both global marketing and global acceptance of oneness. The advocacy of equal human rights for the LGBT+ community has been in the media and pop culture since the early times. In modern times, Harry Styles is a profound voice, supporting and speaking about the beauty of gender diversity through his influence and through his merchandise with the theme “treat people with kindness”. Moreover, in one of his music concerts in 2018, he waved the pride flag. Slowly the shallow attitude towards the community is vanishing while people are beginning to adore this gender diversity by partaking in these pride month days.
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Conclusion
It’s important to understand that nature has never been simple. Laying boundaries and limitations will only divide our society into diversions. Therefore, it’s important to celebrate pride month days to bring equality, peace, harmony, and oneness. This celebration has never been just about the LGBT+ community but for all people to stop drawing the line of segregation regardless of their sexual orientation.