Pride month is an entire month dedicated to celebrating LGBT+ rights, activism, and culture. Due to the COVID pandemic, Pride 2021 events have been cancelled or scaled down in many countries. However, this was not an obstacle to advocate for the rights of the LGBT+ community across the world.
June 2019: ‘Two women, Melania Geymonat and her partner Chris say they were subjected to a homophobic attack and left covered in blood on the top deck of a London night bus as they were travelling to Camden Town’. BBC News
October 2020: ‘30 transgender or gender non-conforming people have now been fatally shot or killed in violent attacks this year. 2020 is now the most violent year for transgender people in America for five years’. Forbes online
March 2021: ‘Jean Pierre Moreno was punched and kicked by an aggressor at a metro station in Rome after kissing his boyfriend, who was hit in the eye” Before attacking the aggressor shouted: ‘What are you doing? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?’. The Guardian
On the 15th of June 2021, the Hungarian parliament passed a new law, presented by the country’s Prime Minister that bans the representation of gender re-assignment and homosexuality in school education material and TV programmes for children and adolescents under the age of 18. The Hungarian government is insisting that this law primarily targets paedophilia. However, the association between paedophilia and the LGBT+ community has been harshly critizised by civil society and human right groups as maintaining harmful stereotypes. This law created an outrage amongst EU member states. “Hate, intolerance and discrimination have no place in our Union. This is why today, and every day, we stand for diversity and LGBTI equality so that our future generations can grow up in a Europe of equality and respect.’ Xavier Bettel.
Pride month is an entire month dedicated to celebrating LGBT+ rights, activism, and culture. This year, due to the COVID pandemic events have been cancelled or scaled down in many countries. However, this was not an obstacle to advocate for the rights of the LGBT+ community across the world.
When did it all start?
On June 28th, 1969, very early morning, a group of New York City police officers raided a bar in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. This bar, called Stonewall Inn, was frequented by members of the LGBT+ community. In 1969, similar ‘raids’ where common as homosexuality was still considered a crime. However, on this night, this violent act instigated riots that lasted days and served as a catalyst for the Gay Rights Movement in the USA and around the world.
What is the Pride symbol?
The rainbow flag, created in 1978 by Gilbert Baker, is a six-coloured flag, with each colour having its own meaning. Along the years, the original flag had several variations to it, the latest being in 2021 where it was altered in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests.
Why do we still celebrate Pride month in 2021?
Change in legislation is important to help ensure that LGBT+ rights are protected. However, changing and enforcing the law is not enough. Education, awareness and changing public attitudes is just as important. The Pride movement helped shape the public’s views of the LGBT+ community in society. One way of doing this was by advocating for a more inclusive representation in the media including film, magazines, music, and television. For example, productions including RuPaul’s Drag Race and Queer Eye have helped in making LGBT representation more mainstream.
Education and teaching about diversity is important. The education system has made several strides forward where inclusion is concerned. However, the emphasis on diversity in families and relationships needs to be more pronounced in the education curriculum and sex education in schools must become less heteronormative. There have been several much-needed changes in this direction. Still, we could do with more evidence-based education and information about this subject. Overall, I believe we have made good progress but there is still so much that needs to be done.
‘Gay pride was not born out of the need to celebrate being gay, but of the right to exist without being persecuted. Instead of wondering why there is no heterosexual Pride movement, be thankful you don’t need one.’
Anthony Venn-Brown
In honour of Pride 2021, if you identify with the LGBTIQ+ community we’d love to hear your own personal experiences. Do you feel that society is accepting of you and your sexuality? Send us your experiences…contact us or email us at [email protected] You can choose to remain anonymous.
Anna Catania (M.Cons. PG(Dip) Psychosexual and relationship therapy is a warranted counsellor specialised in the area if sex and relationships. She provides counselling to individuals and couples who are having difficulties with sexuality, relationships and intimacy.
Click here to check out Anna’s full bio as well as a list of all her Wham published articles
