I’m grateful that my kids have grown up in a time and place when being openly LBGTQ+ is more widely acceptable than it was when I was growing up. When I was in high school, “gay” was a common insult and being out was scary, dangerous, and almost completely unheard-of.
The communities we’ve chosen to be part of have been very accepting and my kids have a hard time wrapping their heads around even the idea of being closeted.
While I’m glad this is their reality (neither of my kids is straight) it occurred to me that they don’t really have a good understanding of the roots of the Pride movement or why visibility is so important. And if they don’t understand the history behind it, it becomes easy to take acceptance for granted – just as they take for granted that women are allowed have their own credit cards and property, or that birth control is legal, or that people of color are allowed to vote.
The first Pride march was organized in June 1970 by Brenda Howard, a prominent gay rights and anti-war activist. She chose the date to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a series of violent confrontations between police and patrons at a prominent gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York. In response to the police raid – a common form of harassment for gay bars at the time – the gay community united as a common force and began coordinating political and social activism to protest harassment, lack of civil liberties, and other disparities in the treatment of the LBGTQ+ community. Since then, Pride has expanded worldwide and continues to be an opportunity to recognize the influence of LBGTQ+ people, raise awareness of issues including discrimination and violence, peacefully protest unequal treatment, and celebrate diversity and inclusion.
Ferndale, Michigan, home to Coventry Creations and the Candlewick Shoppe, hosts a fantastic Pride festival in June to welcome and promote the diversity in our community. We’ve been a proud supporter of the festival in the past; and while this year’s official event has been delayed due to Covid safety measures, we’re still celebrating our beloved community this – and every – month.