What is Pride and why do we celebrate it?
Originating in June 1969 with the Stonewall Uprising, Pride Month celebrates LGBTQ+ culture and is rooted in activism for gay rights.
PRIDE Month is an entire month dedicated to celebrating diversity on the grounds of sex, gender and sexual orientation, supporting LGBTQ+ rights and culture and uplifting the people who make up the LGBTQ+ community. It highlights the importance of their voices in society.
Pride month is commemorated internationally in June, where supporters around the globe assemble for Pride parades, peaceful protests, vigils, and memorials for LGBTQ+ people who lost their lives to homophobic violence and HIV/Aids, as well as drag and theatre shows. It is a movement rooted in activism, as the main purpose of Pride Month is to advocate for better treatment of LGBTQ+ people.
What is the Pride symbol, and what does it mean?
The rainbow flag, created by American artist, designer and activist, Gilbert Baker, in 1978, is a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, with each colour in the six-colour rainbow flag having its own meaning. Red symbolises life, orange symbolises healing, yellow symbolises sunshine, green symbolises nature, blue symbolises harmony and purple represents spirit.
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Why is Pride Month celebrated in June?
Pride Month is observed in the month of June because the Stonewall Uprising, one of the most pivotal protests in the history of the gay liberation movement, occurred in June of 1969.
The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous protests by members of the gay community. These protests were in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Victimization and homophobia from the police towards the gay community was not extraordinary and occurred frequently. However, on this particular day, patrons of the Stonewall Inn challenged the police and fought back, marking the beginning of the Stonewall Uprising.
The Stonewall Inn was declared a historical landmark by the city of New York in 2015 and later named a national monument by President Barack Obama in 2016.
This June is the 52nd anniversary of the first Pride parade, which happened in 1970, one year after the uprising.
Ways to celebrate Pride Month:
Join a Pride march
Due to Covid-19 lockdown regulations, the many annual Pride parades were suspended in 2020 and 2021. Luckily, this year, many Pride marches are going forward. This year’s Pride theme is ‘The Fight Continues’.
Durban Pride is a human rights campaign by the LGBTQ+ Community that aims to commemorate the lives lost and celebrate the realisation of equality and freedom for LGBTQ+ communities. Every year, they host the Durban Pride Parade. If you are passionate about LGBTQ+ rights, get involved in the fight for equality by joining a protest. For more information about Durban Pride and the Durban Pride Parade, visit their Facebook Page @durbanpride.
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Donate
There are many South African-based organisations you can contribute to, to support the LGBTQ+ community. Some include:
- Transgender and Intersex Africa (TIA) – is an organisation founded in 2010 by African transgender individuals to focus on transgender and intersex issues in previously disadvantaged communities in South Africa.
- OUT LGBT Well Being – provides direct health services to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, MSM, sex workers, and injecting drug users. The services provided include HIV testing, counselling, treatment and general lifestyle advice and support.
- Pride Shelter Trust – is a non-profit organisation based in Cape Town, aimed at assisting members of the LGBTQ+ community in South Africa during crisis periods in their lives.
- The Fruit Basket – advocates for the rights and freedoms as well as the safety and security of LGBTQ+ migrants, asylum seekers and refugees living in South Africa.
- Triangle Project – is a non-profit human rights organisation offering professional services to ensure the full realisation of constitutional and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQ+) persons, their partners and families.
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