3 Ways June Is Historic in the US for the LGBTQ+ Community

June has been the official month of Pride for the past twenty-two years, but Pride has been an established event long before the United States government recognized it.

At Casely, we are proud to support Pride and honor the LGBTQI+ activists who fought for rights and recognition for all people regardless of sexuality or gender identity. We celebrate their work every day of the year but especially in June.

Keep reading to learn why June became a significant month in history for the LGBTQI+ community.

1. The Stonewall Uprising

On June 28, 1969, the police raided the Stonewall Inn in NYC. These raids weren’t unusual for the NYPD, who frequently harassed gay bars and arrested patrons. This night, however, was a catalyst for a series of events that changed history forever.

The police raided the Stonewall Inn. But this time, all in attendance decided that they had had enough of their discriminatory treatment.

Marsha P. Johnson, who later went on to play a significant role in the gay rights movement, threw a brick through the window of the Stonewall Inn. What immediately followed came to be known as the Stonewalls Riots, protesting the discrimination the LGBTQI+ community faced.

The riots lasted six days, but their legacy lasted decades and later grew into the LGBTQI+ movement we know today.

2. The Very First Pride March in New York

One year after the original Stonewall Riot, activists organized the first Pride march for June 28, 1970. The march covered fifty-one blocks.

The participants completed the march in half the estimated time. The air was tingling with the excitement of the event but also the tensions and anxiety of wandering the streets with pro-gay banners. Remember, this was still the ‘70s.

Despite this anxiety, the parade faced very little resistance from onlookers. Fifty-two years later, Pride parades remain popular internationally, its reach extending far beyond the original fifty-one blocks it covered. Each Pride parade honors the legacy of that moment in Stonewall and the fearless activism of the LGBTQ community.

3. Officially Declared Pride Month in 2000

Even though Pride parades officially started in 1970, on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riot, the month of June wasn't declared Pride month until the year 2000. President Bill Clinton was the first to declare June as the official month of Gay and Lesbian Pride. Then, in 2011, President Obama expanded June to be the month of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.

Almost fifty years after the original Stonewall Riot, June remains a significant time in the lives of many LGBTQ+ people, and celebrations take place in many different ways!

Marches are not the only ways to express support for the LGBTQ community. Picnics, parties, and charity events are among the many ways to dispel the stigmatization and shame and be proud of who you are and the people you love.

Celebrate Pride 2022!

June is an opportunity to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, whether you identify as a member of the community or are an ally. Pride has a long-standing history of empowerment and justice, standing up to the most violent forms of discrimination. Each celebration, every year, plays a significant role in continuing this tradition, and at Casely, we’re proud to celebrate it too.

Ready to show off your Pride? Shop Casely for rainbow cases today!