The day when the queer community not only celebrates, but remembers our victims: rejected children, rejected husbands and wives, our murdered brothers and sisters.
We’re proudly wear LGBTQ+ flag, dress extravagantly, do makeup and come out. For many it’s even harder.
Blood does not family make. Those are relatives. Family are those with whom you share your good, bad, and ugly, and still love one another in the end. Those are the ones you select.
So, how has it all started?
Stonewall, 1969.
28 July. The police ride to a local NY hotel Stonewall’s bar. Few of them went to the hotel itself, physically examining people there. Hard to believe nowdays – they’ve been cheking their sex. Not only they violently and forcefully interrupted their privacy. Police brutality did not know its borders that day, and their actions might be considered a morality crime.
It remains unknown what exactly happened that day in that bar, yet, Martin Doberman, an american historian and an gueer-activist states that New-York community have been suffering from the constant raids for decades. “Public Moral Squad” insists that, even though the riot in Stonewall was not pre-organized and escalated on the spot, it all came after a long time suffering.
The changes started to take place all over the world. From kitchen talks till other riots and rights defending organisations.
Now going to New-York 1970, June 28.
That was Brenda Howard, who arranged the first Pride in history – Christopher Street Liberation Day March. The name comes from the street Stonewall Inn was standing on. The people celebrated and protested at the same time.
Pride appeared the next year, and soon, the world’s LGBTQ+ community continued celebrating it.
I’m queer, where should I go this summer?
Here’s a top list out of the biggest prides!
Copenhagen Pride Parade
August 15 – August 22, 2022
Ophelia Square, City Hall Square
Madrid Pride Parade 2022
June 25 – July 3, 2022
Atocha Station – Plaza de Colón
Chueca neighbourhood
NYC Pride Parade: June 27, 2022
30 days long, entertains with 50 + events, attended yearly by 3 million people, as it’s the motherland of the Pride.
26th Street, 5th Ave and goes to 23rd Street & 7th Ave
Paris Pride: June 25, 2022
Gathering at Place de la Concorde, at 2pm we’re marching to Châtelet, Le Marais, Pont de Sully, and Bastille, and party at Place de la République for free!
Berlin Pride: June 24, 2022
Kurfürstendamm, 14:00, the destination point is Brandenburger Tor.
Montreal Pride: August 8 – August 14, 2022
Marching from Metcalfe Street to Alexandre-DeSève Street.
London parade will be held on Saturday 2nd July 2022
From Oxford Circus to Regent Street, then to Piccadilly Circus, heading to Lower Regent Street along with Pall Mall, then passing Trafalgar Square and Whitehall to wrap it up!
Should I go If I’m not a queer, yet want to support the march?
Sure! You’re more than welcome, as being a privileged ally means expanding, normalising, and demarginalizing gueer-community. Yet, remember not to capitalize on gay culture, producing LGBTQ+ merch and making money out of it like big companies like doing. Then, respect queer-only spaces, those are not for you.
And one more thing – remember to contribute all year round, though.
What Pride Month gives to us?
The events of the past that will neither be forgotten nor forgiven. The Pride Month helps society reflect on equality, inclusivity, tolerance and human rights. Ultimately, speaking up makes a difference, as today’s world is far away from being safe for LGBTQ+.
As an ACT UP’s poster says:
Silence = Death
So we do not keep silent neither this Pride Month, nor every other month of the year.
I think it’s a great way to live, to fight for yourself, to fight for your friends, to fight for a community of individuals who are sharing your experience and to fight for dignity and a better life, and there will be a tipping point. There will be victories and they will be joyous.
