Happy Pride Month!!!

What Is Pride Month? 

Pride Month occurs during the month of June and is dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ+ voices and the celebration and support of LGBTQ+ culture and rights. From parades to rallies, drag performances to live theatre, pride month is celebrated differently all around the world. Another key reason why Pride is celebrated is to remember the members of the community who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. 

What Does The Rainbow Flag Mean? 

The iconic rainbow flag that is used to symbolize LGBTQ+ pride was created by artist Gilbert Baker in 1978. In the popular six-colour flag, each colour has significance. Red is symbolic of life, orange is symbolic of spirit, yellow of sunshine, green of nature, blue represents harmony and purple represents spirit. However, there have been many variations on the flag. In 2021, the flag was altered in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests, including black to represent diversity, brown to represent inclusivity and light blue and pink were included to represent the colours of the trans pride flag.

Why June? 

The month of June was chosen by the LGBTQ+ community as Pride Month to honour riots against a police raid at a gay bar in New York City, The Stonewall Inn. The raid was the catalyst of the Gay Liberation Movement that was later referred to as the Stonewall Riots. These riots were seen as a historical “tipping point” for LGBTQ+ rights. 

What Can You Be Doing For Pride Month? 

Although Pride Month looks slightly different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that does not mean that we shouldn't be celebrating the work of the LGBTQ activists who have changed the world. The first step in supporting Pride Month is through educating yourself. In order to become an ally, you should read more about the history and the stories of LGBTQ+ individuals. By acknowledging the sacrifices that LGBTQ+ individuals have made, one can understand the true significance which pride month has. Some great resources that you should definitely check out are “10 Ways To Support LGBTQ+ Rights During Pride Month” by Forbes and “It’s Pride Month. Here’s What You Need To Know” by CNN.

Additionally, raising awareness is an important tool to allow more people to learn and understand the history of the LGBTQ+ community. You can do so by spreading awareness through word of mouth in social settings such as at school or work or via various social media platforms! Lastly, by specifying your gender pronouns on social media or in your company email signatures, you contribute towards creating a diverse, inclusive and safe place. This is especially important in scenarios where people do not feel comfortable with someone assuming their pronouns. 

All in all, having lived through the pandemic, it is clear that it is important to be caring and courteous to one another, despite our differences. After all– It’s 2021, it’s about time that sexuality should be the least of our concerns. At wear:change we stand against discrimination in all forms and hope you will too! Please check out our infographics for more information! 🏳️‍🌈 #pride #pridemonth