More than a celebration
By Anthony T. Eaton 06/05/2023
Although our collective history can be traced back thousands of years, the modern gay rights movement was ignited with the Stonewall riots in 1969 when members of the LGBTQ+ community protested against police brutality and discrimination in New York City. This event marked the birth of the modern gay rights movement, which sought to end the marginalization and persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals and the beginning of what was known then as Gay Pride.
Evolving over time, Pride has become an annual celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, identity, and diversity. The original platform for political activism and social change, Pride, is as much a celebration of our culture as it is a public declaration that we are here to stay. Annual Pride events have also served as a platform to bring awareness to the issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community. More than a half-century, the progress made in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights is a testament to the power of Pride and solidarity, yet there is much to be done.
Despite the gains the LGBTQ+ community has made over the last fifty-plus years, including the right to marry, we are seeing an ever-increasing backlash against our community through legislation. Because of this legalization of hate and discrimination, we must remember our origins in the power of civil disobedience and demand a stop to these efforts. We should celebrate our Pride and the battles we have fought, but we must not forget that the war is not over until we all have equal protection under the law.
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