“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” ~ E.E. Cummings, 20th Century poet
June is LGBTQ+ recognition month — you would not be alone if you asked why. According to the Library of Congress, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is currently celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. Gay Pride Day began shortly after the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. The Uprising, which took place on June 28, 1969, marked a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village. The raid led to a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents, sparking six days of protests and clashes with law enforcement. This event served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. If you are interested, your local library offers a wealth of nonfiction and fictional materials that reflect LGBTQ+ experiences. Explore these resources freely with your library card. It’s all up to you and it’s all free with your library card. While you are at the library, check into your library’s the free summer reading challenge programs and fun educational programs.
“There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it’s now okay to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly until it’s simply the way things are.” ~ Tammy Baldwin, United States Senator, WI
Sources: https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/. Accessed 5/29/24
https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/the-stonewall-riots. Accessed 5/29/24