Who founded Pride Month and when did the first celebration take place
While former U.S. President Bill Clinton was the first to declare a Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in June 1999, the history of Pride dates back decades earlier to the Stonewall riots.
Sunday, June 1 marks the beginning of Pride Month in the UK, with marches and events occurring throughout the country all month long. Pride Month is a time to both commemorate the history of the Stonewall riots as well as to celebrate the activism and contributions of the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community.
To better understand the significance of the month, here is a brief breakdown of the history of Pride Month, including its notable patrons and dates.
Who started Pride Month?
New Yorker Brenda Howard is considered the 'Mother of Pride' for coordinating a rally followed by the Christopher Street Liberation Day March to mark the first anniversary of Stonewall Riot. She came up with the idea for a week-long series of events around Pride Day which eventually grew into the large-scale annual Pride celebrations held globally today.
Who is Brenda Howard?
Brenda Howard was a long-time champion of bi-inclusion and was a fixture in New York City's LGBTQ+ community. Howard was also active in the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights, which supported New York City's LGBT rights law in 1986.
In 1987, she helped found the New York Area Bisexual Network to coordinate services to the bisexual community. She was also an active member of the early bisexual political activist group BiPAC, a Regional Organizer for BiNet USA, a co-facilitator of the Bisexual S/M Discussion Group, and a founder of the nation's first Alcoholics Anonymous chapter for Bisexuals.
Who is Marsha P. Johnson?
Gay rights activist Marsha P. Johnson is an icon of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) who is often cited as the architect of the Stonewall riots. Johnson is also known as the "Saint of Christopher Street" - the street where Stonewall Inn was based - for her devotion to the LGBTQ+ youth.
From the foundations of the GLF, Marsha joined friend and fellow activist Sylvia Rivera in founding Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries, which offered shelter and care for young transgender people.
Throughout the 1970s and prior to her tragic death, Johnson became more widely known for advocating for the liberation of gay people from prisons and equal rights in the United States.
When was the first Pride Month in the UK?
The UK's first Pride march was held in London on July 1, 1972. This date was specifically chosen as it was the nearest Saturday to the anniversary of the Stonewall riots in the U.S. which saw LGBT+ patrons targeted by the New York Police Department.
After the first Pride march in London, marches were held across the UK - though not consistently - during the 1970s and 1980s. For years, London hosted the UK's main Pride event, with people travelling from around the UK to attend. Today, regional celebrations and marches occur across the country every June.
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When is Pride Month?
Pride Month in the United Kingdom runs throughout the month of June each year. This year it will run from Sunday, June 1 to Monday, June 30.
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