Thanks to those Stonewall patrons and generations of LGBTQ people who fought for the rights of the community, the world is now an easier place to live for LGBTQ people than it was 10, 15, or 20 years ago.
The first Pride march took place in 1970, a year later, to commemorate - loudly and without a dress code - those who fought for their rights. Stonewall, spurred by the frustration of being targeted and harassed, worked where polite and civil protests had failed. Required dress on men was jackets and ties for women, only dresses. “Since 1965, a small, polite group of gays and lesbians had been picketing outside Liberty Hall. “Before Stonewall, gay leaders had primarily promoted silent vigils and polite pickets, such as the ‘Annual Reminder’ in Philadelphia,” Fred Sargeant, one of the original organizers of the march, wrote in the Village Voice. Fed up with being harassed and targeted, LGBTQ patrons of the Stonewall Inn, who were predominantly people of color, fought back against the police. Pride Month, pride celebrations, and pride marches are how LGBTQ people and allies address the ongoing work for acceptance and equality, which ultimately brings us to the Stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York City. It brings into question what Pride Month means, where it came from, and what we really commemorate when we celebrate it. But in that commercialization lies the disconnect: Brands promoting gay pride and the LGBTQ community may not always be consistent in actually supporting the LGBTQ community, but they still capitalize on the help that people want to give that community. Alexander Ryumin/TASS via Getty ImagesĪs the general support for LGBTQ rights grows, so does the corporate incentive for brands and companies to position themselves in sync with that growing sentiment. Boys kicking Adidas Telstar 18, the official match ball of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, during the opening of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Park in Moscow’s Red Square.
That contradiction throws into sharp relief the emptiness that can lie at the center of corporate gestures of “support” for the LGBTQ community. But it’s also one of the major sponsors for this year’s World Cup, which takes place in Russia, a country with anti-LGBTQ laws that make it unsafe for fans and athletes. Take, for example, Adidas, which has a special section of its site called the “pride pack” selling rainbow merchandise to honor Pride Month. No matter how you're celebrating, we're excited to help.But what exactly are these stores and brands supporting? More important, what happens to the money we spend in these stores? Does brand support for LGBTQ issues have any real impact, or is it just, well, branding?
From poignant reflections on how far we've come as a society and the distance we still have to travel, to empowering messages that will pump you up for Pride, to silly or funny sayings that help you share the joy that comes with being part of the LGBTQ+ family, there's a saying out there for every kind of Pride. We've got you covered, with our favorite Pride Month quotes from celebrities, LGBTQ+ movies, LGBTQ+ books and pop culture moments.
Whether you want to post about it on Instagram, send out the perfect tweet to share your feelings about the importance of equality or mail out cards to mark the occasion with your partner, chosen family or your ride-or-die crew, you need a sentiment that captures the moment perfectly. So get out that glitter, pull on your flashiest fit and get ready to have the best Pride month in recent memory. Now all you need is a quote to elevate your post with a caption that will have everyone hitting "like" faster than RuPaul can say, "You better work." This year, the LGBTQ+ community is celebrating Pride Month even louder and prouder than ever, after a few uncertain years. If you didn't 'gram it, did it even happen? Those of us who live by that code (or can't help documenting every moment of our lives) already have a great picture or 10 waiting in the old camera roll.