Pride Month

Pride events started to improve the visibility, acceptance and legal protections for LGBT+ people. Marches and parades often campaign for the following: • recognition and acceptance of same-sex marriage • legal protections for couples and families • anti-discrimination laws • trans rights. In western nations where LGBT+ people are protected and acceptance is high, many pride events have grown in scale, welcoming millions of visitors to their celebrations. Major cities like New York, São Paulo and Madrid host some of the largest events in the world with crowds of up to 5 million people. History of Pride

In June 1969, a group of LGBT+ people in New York City rioted following a police raid of the Inn, a gay bar located on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village.

This was a turning point for the LGBT+ community and marks one of the most significant events leading to the modern gay rights movement. The following year in June, organized demonstrations took place in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco to mark the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

As the years went on, additional cities in North America and Europe began to hold their own public demonstrations or pride day in June (as the Stonewall riots were in June), eventually leading to what we know today as a , march, celebration or festival.

The first London Pride took place in 1972, attracting approximately 2000 people.

Marsha P. Johnson was an African American transgender woman who was an LGBTQ rights activist and an outspoken advocate for trans people of colour. Johnson spearheaded the Stonewall uprising in 1969 and along with Sylvia Rivera, she later established the Street Transvestite (now Transgender) Action Revolutionaries (STAR), a group committed to helping homeless transgender youth in New York City. https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/the-stonewall-riots Stonewall in Pictures “We don’t need gay pride any more, there is gay marriage…”

A number of people seem to believe that pride is no longer necessary, and that equality has been reached for LGBTQ+ people. This video tries to explain why we believe that's not true, and how we still have a lot of progress to make. Language matters…

Do you still call things you don’t like ‘gay’?

Do you use the word ‘gay’ when you mean rubbish, uncool or just something that you don’t like or want? Do you say ‘no homo’ whenever you interact with a member of the same gender?

Imagine how that makes someone who identifies as gay feel? Like they are ‘wrong’. Not wanted. Not cool. Not welcome.

You probably aren’t using it in connection to gay people at all , there is a link there and it CAN offend people.

Be mindful. Be respectful. Call out people who use this word in this way. Pride 2021

Although Pride Month is June, due to the ongoing pandemic Birmingham Pride 2021 will take place September 25th & 26th 2021.

For more information on Birmingham Pride 2021 click the logo on the right! Coming Out

If you’re thinking about coming out and have some questions or concerns, download this Coming Out guide, which may help you: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system /files/coming_out.pdf