LGBTQ+* Pride Month (also known as Gay Pride, Gay & Lesbian Pride Month or LGBTQ Pride) is a month-long celebration demonstrating how LGBTQ Americans have strengthened our country, by using their talent and creativity to help create awareness and goodwill. It is also the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of LGBTQ people as a social group.
*LGBTQ+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning and the + represents all of the gender identities and sexual orientations that are not specifically covered by the other five initials. Check out this City of Portland glossary and definitions page.
LGBTQ Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan (here are some wonderful resources about the 1969 Stonewall Uprising: Teaching Stonewall and Library of Congress (LOC) Stonewall Uprising). The first Pride March in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, on the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association (NEA) included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months.
In 1999 and 2000, President Bill Clinton declared June “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month” and in 2009 and 2016 President Barack Obama declared June LQBT Pride Month.
Taking Pride in Capitol Hill, A Community Clean-Up Event, Sunday, June 6th 9-1pm