Shormita tells us about the importance of Pride month, mapping its genesis. It is celebrated to remind us of the discrimination and marginalisation of the LGBTQIA+ community. They still face exclusion and discrimination. An exclusive for Different Truths.
Pride month is celebrated in the month of June every year. This month has a special meaning for the people of the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride month is celebrated to honour the existence of queer people in society. During the summer of June, people from all over the world and especially the U.S. come together to celebrate the uniqueness of queers. These people take out the processions to celebrate queer ‘love, diversity, acceptance, and unashamed self-pride.’ (Windsor). It is very unfortunate that this year the parade could not be held due to the ongoing pandemic Covid-19.
Essentially, an amazing fact that is to be noted is the significance of the colour of the LGBTQIA+ flag. It has an interesting meaning.
Essentially, an amazing fact that is to be noted is the significance of the colour of the LGBTQIA+ flag. It has an interesting meaning. The rainbow flag stands for Red for life, Orange for healing, Yellow for sunlight, Green for nature, Blue for harmony, and Violet for the spirit. The flag symbolises the power and individuality of the people who belong to the LGBTQIA+ community. An American gay rights activist, artist and US army veteran Gilbert Baker had conceptualised this rainbow flag.
Why is Pride month celebrated, each year? Most of the people are not aware about the history of this month. In 1969, the Stonewall Riots had taken place in New York, the USA. The American government had criminalised homosexuality; meanwhile, the cops had raided the queer bars in Greenwich Village and arrested the gays and other non-conforming gender people. This event had created a lot of distress and chaos in the queer community; processions against the police officials were taken out on the streets. Many queer people had lost their lives to fight against the power that is.
To mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Pride month is celebrated in the honour of those queer people who had lost their lives to gain their lost esteem.
To mark the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, Pride month is celebrated in honour of those queer people who had lost their lives to gain their lost esteem. And June 28 is declared as the ‘Global Pride Day’ all over the world. This movement against the government was to be called the starting point of the LGBTQIA+ movement in the history of queer studies.
This movement has brought some revolutionary changes in the lives of queer people. The queer community had raised their voice for their equal rights in society, the right to choose of gender, adopt children, legal representation, starting a family, and getting married. Pride month is commemorated in almost every corner of the world, except in Arab countries.
People organise awareness programmes for LGBTQIA+ rights, concerts, campaigns, etc. to educate people about pride history and its implication.
People organise awareness programmes for LGBTQIA+ rights, concerts, campaigns, etc. to educate people about pride history and its implication. However, this year due to the pandemic, the celebration will be little different as most of the event will be hosted online through video conferencing. Such events play an important role in the lives of queer people, as most of the heterosexual population still do not accept the relationship of the homosexuals.
Today, the society is talking about pride parades and participating as well, which is a sign of positivity. The aim to celebrate this month is to bring awareness and consciousness in the society towards homophobia and gender discrimination.
References
Windsor, Morgan. ‘Pride Month 2021: What to know about its history, events, parades.’ Eyewitness News: June 2, 2021. Wednesday, 7:12 pm.
abc7.com/happy-pride-month-2021-is-today-it-flag/10728611/
‘Pride Month 2021: History, Significance and All You Need to Know About the LGBTQ Movement.’ News18: June 01, 2021, 17:11 IST.
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Shormita Bose, is pursuing PhD in English literature from GLA University, Mathura. She has completed her M.A. & B.A. from University of Allahabad. She has contributed her research article in the edited book- Human Rights: Issues, Challenges and Present Status and also written an article in the anthology -Words That Stay Forever. Currently, she is working on her own edited book- Women and Queers: The Marginalized Gender.
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