Advertisement
Social Justice

Pride Month 2023: Everything there is to know

Pride month was declared in June after the Stonewall Riots in New York in 1969. Here’s what you need to know.

Rejoice, one and all, for Pride Month is upon us. Every year, for the month of June, Pride Month takes place as an opportunity to celebrate and raise awareness for the experiences of those who identify as queer.

Around the Western world, Pride month honours lesbian, gay, trans and other queer (LGBTQ+) people throughout the month June. This is not to be confused with LGBT+ history month, which takes place in February in the UK and October in the US.

Here’s what there is to know about Pride month:

What is Pride Month?

Pride Month is a month, typically June, dedicated to the celebration and commemoration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride, which highlights the movement for LGBTQ rights and celebrates LGBTQ culture.

Why is Pride Month in June?

June was declared Pride month to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which was a series of protests by members of the gay community in Manhattan in New York, during June 28, 1969. The riots, which became a watershed moment that transformed queer liberation in the States, was in response to police raids and violence against the community.

When is London Pride parade?

The Pride in London parade will be held on Saturday July 1, 2023. From Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall Place, over 500 groups and 30,000+ participants will march in the iconic Pride in London parade.

Advertisement
Advertisement

What’s the difference between Pride month and LGBT history month?

According to Chapman University in the U.S, Pride month grew out of parades and other events that commemorated the 1969 protests against raids of popular gay bar Stonewall Inn in New York.

Ian Barnard, an English professor and director of Chapman’s LGBTQ Studies, says that LGBT history month, on the other hand “invites us to really rethink dominant narratives of individuals, communities, national events and histories.”

Why is Pride Month important?

Homosexuality is still illegal in more than 60 countries around the world and, worse, more than 10 countries still carry capital punishment for homosexual activity.

Despite a nationwide right to same sex marriage in the US, there are still creeping restrictions on LGBTQ+ people to be themselves in the so-called land of liberty. Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law — dubbed the ‘don’t say gay’ law — prevents teachers discussing “sexual orientation or gender identity” in schools.

It bears a lot of similarities to the British Section 28 law, introduced in 1988 and repealed in 2003.

Stonewall, the gay, lesbian and transgender rights charity, says that while there is a lot to celebrate about queer inclusivity, there is also a long way to go.

On its website, it says: “2023. This year marks 20 years since Section 28, the law that banned ‘promotion of homosexuality’ in the UK, was repealed. It was an attack on LGBTQ+ visibility, and together we resisted. And we’ve made progress in leaps and bounds since. But with parts of our community still under attack, we must remember why we can’t go back, and come together to keep moving forward. Let’s learn from our past and keep standing in solidarity to make history for our communities!”

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

Read All
'Back to cost of living crisis': Households will be £770 worse off by next UK election, experts say
woman in supermarket
Cost of living crisis

'Back to cost of living crisis': Households will be £770 worse off by next UK election, experts say

Buffer zones outside abortion clinics are step in right direction – but other problems persist
Abortion

Buffer zones outside abortion clinics are step in right direction – but other problems persist

'Where will it stop?': DWP to get 'direct access to bank accounts' in benefit fraud crackdown
rachel reeves' autumn budget
Benefit fraud

'Where will it stop?': DWP to get 'direct access to bank accounts' in benefit fraud crackdown

'Disturbing' disability benefit reforms in Labour's budget could see hundreds of thousands denied help
rachel reeves
Autumn budget

'Disturbing' disability benefit reforms in Labour's budget could see hundreds of thousands denied help

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue