June is Pride Month! At Citizens for Suzanne Ness, we are enthusiastic about celebrating Pride and uplifting individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. Pride Month, recognized every June, has its roots in the historic Stonewall riots of June 1969, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. If you’re unfamiliar with the Stonewall riots and their significance, click here to read more.
In our family, Pride is second nature. Suzanne’s mother and stepmother, who met in the 1980s, finally wed in 2012, a momentous occasion that marked the culmination of decades of advocacy for marriage equality. Suzanne’s children grew up with two grandmothers under the same roof and will tell you that they naturally assumed that everyone had a family structure like theirs. For us, Pride isn’t confined to a single month; it’s an integral part of our daily lives. Though we do get extra loud in June, the exciting energy of Pride parades & events fuel us.
For many of us, the importance of celebrating Pride is clear, but not everyone shares this understanding. So, why IS it important to celebrate Pride? Commemorating Pride honors the legacy of the Stonewall riots and the courageous individuals like Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson who championed the cause of LGBTQ+ rights. Their activism paved the way for the progress we see today, but the fight for equality is far from over. Pride Month is a time to highlight the ongoing struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community and to continue spreading the message of equality and acceptance.
Despite significant progress, discrimination and prejudice persist. There are still individuals who believe that loving who you love or being true to your gender identity is wrong. Recent years have seen the introduction and passage of harmful legislation that denies people essential medical procedures, such as gender-affirming care. This kind of legislation perpetuates stigma and undermines the rights and well-being of transgender individuals.
We cannot allow hate and intolerance to prevail. It is crucial to counteract hateful rhetoric with messages of love, acceptance, and equality. Celebrating Pride is more than just a festive occasion; it is an act of resistance and solidarity. By celebrating Pride, we honor those who fought for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, support those who continue to face challenges, and reaffirm our commitment to creating a world where everyone can live authentically and freely.
