Happy Pride Month! If you’re not already celebrating, you’ve probably noticed Pride being celebrated just about everywhere around you with parades, festivals, social media, and of course rainbow merchandise. But what is Pride all about? The month of June is a time for LGBTQIA+ folks to gather and celebrate the freedom of being their authentic selves. If you’re wondering what all those letters represent, let's break it down.
L- Lesbian
G-Gay
B-Bisexual
T-Transgender
Q-Queer or Questioning
I-Intersex
A-Asexual
+-represents all gender identities and sexual orientations that words don’t fully describe yet.
Pride Month is also a time for allies to celebrate in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. When people feel safe and supported to be their true authentic selves, they live more mentally healthy lives, which contributes to a healthier community overall. With so much current anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation it is imperative to continue to celebrate Pride, and the gains made for LGBTQIA+ rights; while recognizing that there is still a lot of work to be done.
The history of Pride is not all love rainbows. Pride Month commemorates the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in June, 1969, in New York City. This uprising was in protest of the police raids and harassment of the patrons of the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQIA+ bar and gathering space. This uprising marked the beginning of the movement for LGBTQIA+ rights. The anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising was officially recognized as Pride Month in 1999.
You may have noticed that Mansfield celebrates Pride in August instead of June. This is because many folks in the area travel to bigger cities in June to participate in larger Pride celebrations. If you are interested in celebrating locally, mark your calendars for Saturday, August 5th for Mansfield’s 9th Pride Parade and Festival! This is held downtown, with the parade starting at 11 am and the festival following afterwards from 12 pm-5 pm. There will be a Kids’ Zone with activities for all ages, food, vendors, and live entertainment!
Resources
Love On A Mission:
A local organization that provides support to LGBTQIA- youth and their families.
Mansfield Gay Pride Association
Equality Ohio
Trans Ohio
Mental Health America-Pride and Mental Health
Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
GLSEN:
An organization founded by educators to provide support to LGBTQIA+ students in the school system.
GLAAD-LGBTQIA+ Advocacy
The Trevor Project:
Youth crisis support
Stonewall Columbus-LGBTQIA+ Organization
By Emily Talbott, LISW-S
Clinical Social Worker