Pride Month

June is Pride Month, when the world’s LGBTQ+ communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves. Pride gatherings are rooted in the history of minority groups who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who they are.

Since June 1970, LGBTQ+ people have continued to gather in June to march with Pride. The original organizers chose this month to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement. Most Pride events take place each year in June, although some cities hold their celebrations at other times of the year.

Notable Milestones in the History of the Pride Movement

In 1982 as Wisconsin became the first state to outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.
In 1987, LGBTQ+ advocates protested outside the Whitehouse for President Ronald Reagan to address the AIDS crisis.
In 1988, the World Health Organizations (WHO) recognized World AIDS Day to raise awareness
In 1988, the CDC sent out over 100 million brochures to help people understand AIDS to American households.
In 2000, Vermont is the first state to allow legal civil unions between same sex couples.
In 2004, Massachusetts becomes the first state to officially legalize gay marriage.
2010 becomes notable as the US Senate repeals the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, allowing openly gay and lesbian military members to serve.
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court votes 5-4, legalizing same sex marriage across the country.

Federal Recognition

The federal government first recognized the month in 1999 when President Bill Clinton declared June “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month.” In 2009, President Barack Obama declared June LGBT Pride Month. On 1 June 2021, President Joe Biden declared June LGBTQ Pride Month.

Local Recognition

Bucks County Commissioners Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia, Robert J. Harvie Jr., and Gene DeGirolamo proclaimed June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month throughout the county in June 2023.