Embrace the RAINBOW
RED – Life
ORANGE – Healing
YELLOW – Sunshine
GREEN – Nature
BLUE – Harmony
PURPLE – Spirit
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “riot is the language of the unheard.” Powerful and truthful, but arguably devastating, words describing the actual emotional distress and turmoil of an oppressed group of people transformed into physical acts of violence and aggression to make a statement and take a stand. Before a 1980 court ruling, behaviors like kissing, dancing, or even holding hands with someone of the same sex in public were illegal in New York City, casting those outside of the general public to flock to gay establishments. To be clear, these behaviors were still prohibited; however, because they were hidden away from the watchful eyes of onlookers, they were often overlooked, allowing people to be themselves.
In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, the New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar located on Christopher Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan. What began as a simple raid masked under the authority to investigate the illegal sale of alcohol sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents that evolved into six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement, igniting the first wave of the Gay Pride Movement (https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/). This uprising became a galvanizing force for political activism, leading to organizations like the Gay Liberation Front, Human Rights Campaign, and PFLAG (formerly Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).
On June 28, 1970, the first anniversary, thousands of people joined together. They marched through the streets of Manhattan, beginning from the Stonewall Inn and ending at Central Park, chanting, “Say it Loud, Gay is Proud,” marking the first documented Pride parade in America and setting a precedent of June being Pride Month. In 2016, President Barack Obama designated the site of the riots as a national monument in recognition of their contributions to the rights of the queer community.
Today, Pride Month welcomes and includes all identities within the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. It is dedicated to uplifting voices, acts as a celebration of the culture, and supports advancing rights and opportunities through various organized events like parades, protests, drag and live theater performances, and memorials. Having been systemically written out of history and excluded, Pride counteracts that by mainstreaming the historically hidden ideas, concepts, and people, making them visible and celebrating them for who they are.
Unfortunately, recent political and social environments have become increasingly more hostile towards queer people. In 2023, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, more than 500 bills were introduced in state legislatures specifically targeting the LGBTQ+ community, and 84 of those bills were signed into law. Across the country, many of these bills were carried over from 2023 to 2024, and 6 of these proposed bills remain pending in North Carolina (https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2024). Additionally, the Southern Poverty Law Center reported in 2023 that their list of LGBTQ+ hate groups has grown by 30% (https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/anti-lgbtq). These groups are responsible for pushing legislation and policies grounded in demonizing LGBTQ+ individuals and using pseudoscientific claims to legitimize extremist ideology and establish a restrictive heterosexist and cisnormative definition of religious freedom in domestic and international law.
Outside of the political lens and closer to home, like other events acknowledging and celebrating a marginalized group, Pride attracts its own group of reactionaries who ask ill-intended questions about why there isn’t recognition for straight pride. In 2019, Boston held a straight pride parade, and in 2023, a Denver father sued the local school district for not flying a straight pride flag. Where this might cause an immediate visceral reaction, these actions are only fueled by the shock and awe we give them. After their short-lived limelight, they drift off to become less than a brief, embarrassing memory of a fragile individual or group of people, blinded by their entitlement and privilege, feeling oppressed by equality.
Both political and social changes can have severe and detrimental effects on the mental health of LGBT individuals. Such laws foster a climate of fear, uncertainty, and pervasive discrimination, leading to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and hypervigilance among LGBTQIA individuals. They exacerbate feelings of marginalization, invalidation, and social isolation, which in turn contribute to increased rates of depression, mood disorders, and suicidal ideation. These legislative measures reinforce societal stigma and prejudices, perpetuating a sense of shame and self-doubt about one's identity. Moreover, they create barriers to accessing essential healthcare services, including mental health support, further isolating individuals and denying them necessary resources for coping and resilience. The cumulative impact of anti-LGBTQIA legislation underscores the urgent need for inclusive policies that affirm the rights, dignity, and well-being of all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression.
The queer community is often credited as being a resilient group of people; however, it can become difficult, if not impossible, to deflect and avoid the overt and covert displays of queerphobia. The American Psychiatric Association identified that LGBTQ+ people are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and substance misuse than their straight counterparts (https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-LGBTQ.pdf). Additionally, the rates of suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ youth is four times greater than that of straight youth.
If you or someone you love is struggling, remember that help is readily available. Hearth Counseling and Consulting has several providers who can provide support. Visit https://www.hearthcc.com/contact to schedule a complimentary 15-minute phone consultation.
Written by Rob Cline, MSW, LCSW
Resources:
https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/
https://www.aclu.org/legislative-attacks-on-lgbtq-rights-2024
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/anti-lgbtq