PRIDE

Celebrating...

What is Pride and why
do people celebrate it?

June is Pride month, dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities, and aims to promote acceptance, equality, and raise awareness of issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community.

Did you know?

The

bravest

thing you

can be

is yourself

Being a gay man was a crime in the UK until 1967 and it wasn’t until 2008 that

it became illegal to encourage homophobic hatred.

Same sex marriage became legal in England and Wales in 2013, and then in

Scotland a year later. While this is obviously great progress, take another look

at those dates.

It was only ten years ago that it would have been illegal for a gay person to

marry the person they loved. And it was only two years ago, in 2020, that it

became legal in Northern Ireland.

The government only began allowing LGBTQ+ support and education in

schools from 2003. Prior to that schools were prohibited from promoting

homosexuality by teaching or by publishing material; and from teaching the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship.

Although laws may have rightly changed, unfortunately, some peoples’ attitudes

have not and there’s still a lot of work to be done.

On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York Greenwich Village,

was raided by police. But instead of responding with the routine compliance the

NYPD expected, patrons and a growing crowd decided to fight back. The five days of rioting that ensued changed forever the face of gay and lesbian life. On June 28, 1970, on the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the first Pride marches were held in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Thousands of

LGBT+ people gathered to demonstrate for equal rights. The liberation

movements that followed were a direct result of prior decades of LGBT+

activism and organizing. In particular, Pride traditions were adapted from the

Reminder Day Pickets held annually (1965-1969) on July 4 at Independence

Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

When did Pride begin?

Footage of one of the earliest Gay Pride demonstration marches, 'Reminder Day Picket' held at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1968.

Further learning and resources...

For further learning resources head to these useful videos and PDF links ...

LQBTQ & HISTORY BOOKS LIST

QUEER FAMILIES SUPPORT DOCUMENT

STONEWALL LGBTQ HISTORY MONTH

How can I get involved
locally to Northampton?

Northampton

Pride

Now in its 7th year, the event is organised by the Northampton Pride Committee and West Northamptonshire Council’s LGBTQ+ and Allies Forum and features live performances, walkabout entertainers, stalls, food and much more for people to participate in.

Northampton LGBT

social group

CHECK IT OUT

This is an all inclusive group for members of the LGBT community in Northamptonshire. Activities will include evenings in the pub, cinema trips, nights out and LGBT events, and anything else the group wants to do!