Pride Month 2020

Pride Month 2020

LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer) Pride Month is celebrated in June of each year. However, this year is extra special as June 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the annual celebration of pride month.

The first celebration was hosted in New York City on June 28, 1970 when thousands marched in the streets celebrating what was originally called “Gay Pride Day.”

This celebration marked the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a series of spontaneous demonstrations by members of the gay community in response to a police raid of the Stonewall Inn.

The Stonewall Riots are recognized to be a critical tipping point in the gay liberation movement that ignited the modern fight for LGBTQ rights in the United States.

Each year, celebrations expanded to include more American cities and longer demonstrations. Gay Pride Day soon grew to encompass an entire month focused on uniting public displays of gay pride and social activism.

Today, Pride Month is celebrated with parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, concerts, and marches.

Millions of people flock to cities to participate in massive displays of Pride. Additionally, memorials are often held to commemorate those in the LGBTQ community who have been lost due to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. 

June 2020 is a particularly unique year in the long history of Pride Month, closely following the death of George Floyd and the protests that broke out across the United States in response to police brutality.

Organizers have used the existing swell of activism for racial equality to highlight the challenges that black-LGBTQ community members face.

Further, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, large gatherings such as the Pride March in New York City that typically attracts millions of participants were cancelled.

Pride Month History

Below, we’re going to look back at the history of Pride Month and go over some of the ways you can keep the tradition going even in our highly unusual circumstances.

Why is Pride Month in June?

Pride Month began one year after the massively influential stonewall riots. In the early hours of June 28, 1969, the police raided Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York’s Greenwich Village. As the patrons resisted arrest, a growing crowd began to throw objects at the officers. Violence broke out as tensions between police and New York’s gay community exploded. The riots would last three days as people displayed their anger at the harassment the gay community faced. 

Who Created Pride Month?

The Stonewall uprising resulted in the formation of several organizations including the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance. These groups were modeled after the civil rights movement and the women’s rights movement.

Members would organize protests, meet with political leaders, and interrupt public meetings to confront those who would suppress their rights. As an homage to the fight for gay rights that began with the Stonewall Riots, organizers in 1970 set out to create a day of celebration for the gay community.

From then on, demonstrations of Pride have expanded to encompass lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer communities. Celebrations now occur throughout the whole month, and the Stonewall Inn is now a national monument. 

How to Celebrate Pride in 2020

2020 has been a challenging year to say the least. For many, 2020 has brought difficult lifestyle changes, sickness, and anger.

We at PlushCare want to encourage a balance between the two critical realities of our time.

First, the importance of the activism that continues throughout our nation to protest racial inequality cannot be understated. At PlushCare we’re committed to continuing our work to advance telemedicine so that all people have access to quality and affordable healthcare.

Secondly, we also must acknowledge the threat of COVID-19. As we enter Pride Month in 2020, we at PlushCare want to encourage safe activism that both advances the rights of the LGBTQ community and prevents the worsening of the pandemic.

A variety of Pride events have gone digital this year, and we encourage you to virtually enjoy all that you can!

• Global Pride Livestream (Saturday, June 27, at 10:30am EST)
• New York City Broadcast (Sunday, June 28, at noon EST)
• NYC Pride Human Rights Conference (Thursday, June 25, 9:30am to 6:30pm EST)
• San Francisco Virtual Trans March (Friday, June 26)

To find more events in a variety of cities, click here!

How PlushCare Supports the LGBTQ Community

PlushCare supports the rights and equal treatment of the LGBTQ community! We are dedicated to improving access to healthcare for all and are proud to employ and serve a diverse team and patient base.

Additionally, we are proud to be the largest online provider of PrEP, an HIV preventative medication. Of the thousands of LGBTQ patients in our PrEP program, zero have contracted HIV. PrEP, when taken correctly, is highly effective at preventing HIV and we make it easy and affordable to get the medication online.

Learn more on our PrEP page, or book an appointment with a board certified physician to learn more about PrEP, here.

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Read More About PrEP

• Get PrEP Online
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Sources:

cnn.com. It’s Pride Month. Here’s what you need to know. Accessed on June 15, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/health/pride-month-origin-trnd/index.html

loc.gov. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month. Accessed on June 16, 2020. https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/

history.com. The Stonewall Riots begin in NYC’s Greenwich Village. Accessed on June 16, 2020. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-stonewall-riot