Considerations on Pride Month

June is LGBT+ Pride Month. The concept of Homosexual Pride originated in the United States—conceptualized, initiated, and brought into collective memory by activists such as Jack Baker and Michael McConnell, Thom Higgins, Brenda Howard, Robert A. Martin, and L. Craig Schoonmaker. June was proclaimed Pride Month as a reminder and commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, which took place in New York in 1969. Let's quickly retrace the history of Pride and its affiliated movements, leading up to contemporary issues like rainbow washing.

The Stonewall Riots

On June 28, 1969, in New York City, the police raided the Stonewall Inn, one of the few gay bars in the Big Apple, which attracted the most marginalized members of society, including Drag Queens and trans people. These violent raids were commonplace in the 1960s. Tensions were high and erupted into a series of clashes between the patrons and the police that lasted for days. The residents of Greenwich Village quickly organized to create safe spaces where they could exist without fear of being arrested or beaten. This was the first time the homosexual community rebelled in an organized manner against a government-sponsored system that persecuted sexual minorities. In November of the same year, Craig Rodwell, Fred Sargeant, Ellen Broidy, and Linda Rhodes proposed the first demonstration march through the city streets. These clashes and this rebellion became a symbol, marking the beginning of the LGBT+ rights movement in the United States and worldwide. Even today, at the beginning of June, social media fills with photos of Marsha P. Johnson, considered an important figure and the true initiator of these riots and the organized movements that followed.

Pride Today

In 2024, one might think that there is no longer a need for Pride. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Around the world, belonging to the LGBT+ community is still seen as a stigma. Without placing ourselves on a higher pedestal, without pointing fingers at other countries, and instead engaging in some self-criticism as white Westerners, just consider the situation in Italy, which ranks very low among European countries regarding LGBT+ rights, with a (sadly negative) focus on trans people. Not to mention the prejudices, violent comments, and micro-aggressions on the street and in bars, which are also commonplace. So what can we do? Throughout Italy, events and demonstrations are organized throughout June and beyond, which you can participate in to show support and solidarity.

Rainbow Washing and Intersectionality

But what happens when large companies appropriate the rainbow struggle to sell more products? When Pride becomes a parade of brands, pushing community members aside to look good and gain points without actually doing anything for the communities they claim to support? This is known as rainbow washing, and more and more people are learning to recognize and avoid it. The solution? Simply not buying. It can also help to look around, distinguish genuine support from the fake, check that these companies are not owned by groups that harm the environment or ignore discrimination. Investigate what that politician who loves to wear rainbow socks thinks about the poorest members of society. In short, strive to understand how social rights intersect with civil rights, how they intersect and how one cannot exist without the other, because they become meaningless.

What to Do for Pride Month in Italy

Participating in Prides is always enjoyable and always worth it. Not just as partygoers, but as supporters of a community still loudly demanding its space, a space that is still denied. Just consider the Lombardy Region and its refusal to sponsor this year's Milan parade. On the Onda Pride website, all the parades in Italy, along with related events, are listed. And they extend beyond June. Other organizations, such as the Trans Identity Movement, often hold meetings and conferences, places for discussion to welcome ideas or decide the next steps of their activity. Participating and donating are all things we can do, if not throughout the year, at least in June. Locally, there are associations (like Mask.You and Arca di Noè) to keep an eye on, so as not to miss out on the busy programming of this Pride Month. Happy Pride!