June 4, 2025
When police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 28, 1969, patrons of the Greenwich Village gay bar and LGBTQ+ sympathizers had finally had enough.
PRIDE Is Born
While widespread law enforcement’s infringement on gay rights was anything but novel back then, the raid on Stonewall sparked spontaneous protests and riots that lasted for six days.
One year after the Stonewall rebellion, the first Christopher Street Liberation Day March (named for the street on which Stonewall is located) was held in New York City. Similar events also occurred in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. These marches set the precedent for annual PRIDE events held in the month of June in countries and cities throughout the world.
Today, the PRIDE focus has grown to include more diverse intersectional identities such as transgender, nonbinary, intersex, asexual and more.
Key People
No discussion of PRIDE would be complete without mention of a few key figures in the history of sexual and gender minority rights.
Some notable pioneers include:
- Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender drag queen who was a key figure in the Stonewall uprising and co-founder of STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) in support of homeless queer youth.
- Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S. Though he was assassinated in 1978, he left a lasting legacy of political activism and hope.
- Audre Lorde, a Black lesbianfeminist and poet whose writing empowered generations of queer women of color.
- James Baldwin, a Black gay writer and intellectual whose novels and essays explored the intersection of race, sexuality and identity.
Although not activists themselves, Matthew Shepard and Tyler Clementi—two young gay men who lost their lives, one to murder and the other to suicide—became enduring symbols of the devastating impact of anti-gay hatred and humiliation, galvanizing public awareness and inspiring action against such cruelty.
Today, influential figures like Laverne Cox, an acclaimed actress and transgender advocate; Elliot Page, a trans actor championing healthcare rights for trans youth; and Lady Phyll, the visionary founder of UK Black PRIDE, are powerful voices ensuring that the spirit and purpose of PRIDE continue to thrive.
More Than a Parade
PRIDE parades are some of the most flamboyant, outrageous and, yes, entertaining spectacles. But there is deep personal, social, historical and political meaning behind all the colors and costumes.
Celebrating PRIDE keeps the memory of the resistance that began over 50 years ago alive and honors those who risked so much for the freedoms many enjoy today. For LGBTQ+ people, particularly those in societies where they are still marginalized or criminalized, PRIDE celebrations can be life-changing and even lifesaving.
Indeed, PRIDE is not just a party; it’s a platform for activism, illuminating such important issues as:
- Discrimination and hate crimes
- Trans rights and healthcare access
- Homelessness among the LGBTQ+ community
- Mental health in the queer community
- HIV/AIDS awareness and stigma
- Validation for LGBTQ+ identity; PRIDE celebrations say “You are valid. You are beautiful. You are enough.”
The Cause Continues
As far as we’ve come, there is still progress to be made. In several parts of the world, same-sex relationships are criminalized, and many LGBTQ+ people face violence and exclusion.
Closer to home, political leaders are rolling back rights and imposing restrictions such as funding for gender-affirming medical procedures for young people, banning transgender individuals from serving in the military, erasing LGBTQ+ resources from government websites and revising the definition of gender based on sex at conception.
Indeed, PRIDE reminds us that equal rights are not a guarantee, and the fight for justice for all continues.
PRIDE at Lathrop
Rooted in the Quaker belief that every person is inherently equal, Lathrop embraces and welcomes all. No matter whom you love or how you identify, our doors—and our hearts—are always open. Independent living at Lathrop means the freedom to be yourself, express yourself and live fully, supported by a community where love guides everything we do and defines who we are.
And we’re mighty proud of that.
Take pride in life at Lathrop.