A history of GLBT Pride
(Borrowed from Kathy Belge and Ramon Johnson)
The Stonewall Riots
Each year in June gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people across the world prance and parade to celebrate Gay Pride. The history of these Gay Pride Celebrations began in 1969 in Greenwich Village, New York City at the Stonewall Inn.
At the time, it was common all over the United States for police to raid gay and lesbian bars. While they were purportedly looking for liquor law or other violations, patrons and clients were arrested and dragged off to jail with no legitimate charges. The names of those arrested were often published in the papers and many of those people were fired from their jobs as a result.
In 1969 bars were about the only places gays and lesbians could gather in public. Most times, when the police would raid a bar, the gay and lesbian clientele would try to slip out the back or cower in the corners.
But on the night of June 27th, 1969 something different happened. When police raided the Stonewall Inn, the butch lesbians and drag queens fought back. The bar patrons threw bottles and rocks at the police. They chanted, “Gay Power!” For several nights crowds grew outside the Stonewall Inn.
Word quickly spread around the country about the gay people who fought back against the police. The event became known as the Stonewall Rebellion or Stonewall Riots. Although there were small gay rights movements in the United States and in some European countries prior to Stonewall, after 1969 these movements underwent fundamental changes.
The 1960s was a time of revolution. The Civil Rights Movement in the United States was in full swing and people, both in the United States and in Europe, took to the streets to protest the war in Vietnam. It was only a matter of time before gays and lesbians stood up for their rights as well.
Ever since, gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people celebrate pride and call for basic civil rights by commemorating Stonewall. Across the United States and all over the world, gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people remember the brave men and women of the Stonewall Inn every June in Gay Pride celebrations.
Gay Pride
Most Gay Prides span from a few days to over a week and are filled with dances, volunteer and social events and highly publicised parades. Many participants in these parades dress in bright colours, head-to-toe leather or sometimes even next to nothing. But regardless of the attire, all of them join the festivities to remind the world that gays, lesbian, bisexuals and transgender people deserve the same rights as others. Gay Pride is also a symbol of solidarity and an opportunity to express the vivid personalities that reflect the diverse GLBT communities throughout the world. During this time (and in many places year round), the skies are covered with the gay pride flags and banners, the symbol of GLBT solidarity and freedom.
Meaning and History of the Gay Pride or Rainbow Flag
The Rainbow Flag was designed by Gilbert Baker and debuted at the 1978 San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade. Its inspiration came from the black civil rights and hippie movements.
Each colour on the Rainbow Flag has a different meaning.
Red = Life
Orange = Healing
Yellow = Sun
Green = Nature
Royal Blue = Harmony
Violet = Spirit
Adding a black stripe to the bottom of the flag represents victory over AIDS.