Pride is more than a celebration. It is a powerful reminder that love is love and that everyone deserves to live their truth freely and fearlessly. To our LGBTQIA+ community, including our trans, non-binary, bisexual, queer, intersex, gender-fluid, and sexually fluid siblings, along with families, friends, and allies, your courage, joy, and solidarity continue to light the way. Keep shining. Keep standing proud!
But this celebration did not begin with parades or glitter. It began with protest, pain, and a demand for justice.
On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a small gay bar in New York City. At the time, it was illegal to be openly gay, lesbian, or trans in many parts of the United States. LGBTQ people were often arrested, harassed, and publicly humiliated. Stonewall was a refuge, like many gay bars then, where people gathered to find safety and community. That night, instead of running or staying silent, patrons resisted.
Among them were trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, along with drag performers, gay men, lesbians, and others. Many were Black or Hispanic and faced multiple forms of oppression. They stood together against injustice and sparked days of uprising. The Stonewall Uprising became a powerful symbol of LGBTQ resistance and the beginning of a global movement.
The LGBTQIA+ struggle for equality has always existed alongside other civil rights movements. During the 1960s and 70s, Black and Hispanic communities were also fighting systemic racism and police brutality. These overlapping struggles built deep connections across movements. LGBTQ activists of color helped shape a vision of justice that included race, gender, class, and identity.
From the ashes of discrimination, hope and resilience rose. Stonewall gave birth to Pride marches, advocacy groups, and a movement that demanded dignity, safety, and rights. The journey was never easy. Being queer once meant being criminalized, pathologized, or forced into silence. But those brave enough to resist lit the path forward.
One of the most powerful symbols of that path is the rainbow flag. Created by artist Gilbert Baker in 1978 at the suggestion of Harvey Milk, the original eight-color flag represented life, healing, sunlight, nature, art, harmony, and spirit. Over time, the flag evolved. Today’s Progress Pride Flag includes black and brown stripes to honor LGBTQ people of color, and pink, blue, and white stripes to represent the transgender community. These additions reflect the strength and diversity of the modern LGBTQIA+ family.
Pride today celebrates how far we have come and reminds us how far we still must go. It honors queer joy, chosen families, and the power of allyship. It recognizes every person who lives openly and authentically. And it carries forward a promise that the future can be more inclusive, compassionate, and free.
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LGBTQIA+ Pride: Key Historical Moments Timeline
1940s–50s:
Gay and lesbian people are routinely criminalized, institutionalized, and excluded from public life. The pink triangle is used to mark homosexual prisoners in Nazi concentration camps.
June 28, 1969:
The Stonewall Uprising begins in New York City following a police raid. It becomes a catalyst for the LGBTQ rights movement.
1970:
The first Pride marches are held in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago to mark the one-year anniversary of Stonewall.
1978:
Gilbert Baker designs the first rainbow Pride flag with eight colors, each symbolizing a core value of the movement.
1980s:
The AIDS epidemic devastates the LGBTQ community. Activism rises as groups like ACT UP demand medical support and visibility.
2000s–2010s:
Marriage equality is achieved in many countries. Trans visibility grows. Legal protections expand in many regions.
2018:
The Progress Pride Flag is introduced by Daniel Quasar to include black, brown, and trans stripes, reflecting the movement’s inclusivity.
Today:
Pride is celebrated worldwide. It is a symbol of resilience, love, and the ongoing fight for equality for all, regardless of gender identity, race, or sexual orientation.
You are seen. You are valid. You are not alone.