As it is every year, June is Pride Month. Do you have any plans? Sure, with all that’s going on in the world, it would be easy to skip this year or hold off if you’ve never joined in the celebration. Of course, you can raise your flag all year long, but joining in the festivities during Pride Month is pretty special. The Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival and March is one of the biggest and best, welcoming over 700,000 visitors to the city to celebrate!
Pride Month is designed to serve many purposes. Not the least of which is to honor the past. The reason it happens in June is a big part of LGBTQIA+ history. So, let’s dig a little deeper to better understand the significance of what we call “Pride.”
Stonewall
On Friday evening, June 27, 1969, it happened in and around a Stonewall Inn bar in New York City’s West Village. This is not to say the struggle began there. But Stonewall became the catalyst for a full-blown movement. Look up the Mattachine Society and The Daughters of Bilitis.
After dealing with police raiding gay bars for years, the LGBTQIA+ said no. Accounts vary widely, but Stonewall patrons took on eight NYPD officers. The cops ended up taking refuge inside the bar as a massive crowd grew outside. The riot lasted all night. More skirmishes took place on the following two nights. The impact was instantaneous and has been enduring.
Fifty-three years later, Stonewall remains the reason that June is Pride Month all across the globe.
Progress Has Been Made But There’s Work to Be Done
Younger members of the LGBTQIA+ community might have trouble comprehending what once passed as normal. Therefore, it is essential that the progress is honored and awareness is spread. At the same time, Pride Month is an excellent opportunity to assess the current situation. It’s a time of solidarity and struggle. Celebrations are important to any movement. However, they must be balanced with new goals and plans.
When you raise your flag in June—and all year round—you become part of the solution. But do not let your guard down.
Corporate Pride?
Pride Month events are often openly sponsored by major corporations. On one level, this is a breakthrough, but we don’t have to settle for just short-term support. Are those sponsors around during the other eleven months of the year? Do their actions translate into tangible support for the most vulnerable LGBTQIA+ individuals? You can view the corporate presence as positive momentum but offer support and patronage to companies that have a history of standing up and defending gay rights.
The Psychology of Pride
For much of recorded history, being anything other than straight was dangerous. Hate crimes still exist; let’s be clear. But also, many LGBTQIA+ people still struggle with:
- Employment or housing discrimination
- Finding a community where they fit in
- Coming out to friends and family
- Shame and guilt
There is still plenty of work to be done on a micro and macro scale. Pride Month can be a great launching pad for any or all of that work. It’s a time to party and dance and wave your flag, for sure. It’s also a time to take stock of who you are, how you’ve gotten to this point, and where you want to be in the future. Pride Month is an ideal time to set both collective and individual goals.
Pride Month Can Feel Lonely. Meet With A Therapist in Columbus, OH
There is no shame in not waving your flag if you feel down. In fact, Pride Month might be the catalyst for you seeking some guidance. If so, our team would love to connect with you to talk and listen. Let’s connect. You can start your therapy journey with Blue Boat Counseling by following these simple steps:
- Contact Blue Boat Counseling by using the button below
- Meet with a caring therapist
- Begin receiving the treatment you deserve!
Other Therapy Services Offered With Blue Boat Counseling
Our team at Blue Boat Counseling knows that you may be dealing with a variety of mental health concerns. This is why we are happy to offer mental health services including anxiety therapy, depression therapy, and military veteran therapy. We are also happy to offer teen and family therapy and online therapy across the state of Ohio. Visit our blog to learn more today for helpful info.
