Pride Month is a time for LGBTQ+ people to uplift and celebrate their freedom to live authentically. The LGBTQ+ community deserves affirmed, safe, supported, joyful, and mentally healthy lives.
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. The Stonewall Uprising was a landmark moment for the Gay Liberation Movement in the US. The message was clear — protestors demanded the establishment of places where LGBTQ+ people could go and be open about their sexual orientation without fear of arrest.
The rainbow flag — created by artist Gilbert Baker in 1978 — is used as a symbol of LGBTQ pride, but did you know that each color on the flag has its own meaning? In the widely known six-color flag, red is symbolic of life, orange is healing, yellow is sunshine, green is nature, blue represents harmony and purple is spirit. In the original eight-color flag, hot pink was included to represent sex and turquoise to represent magic/art. In 2021, the flag was altered in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter protests, including black to represent diversity, brown to represent inclusivity and light blue and pink, the colors of the Trans pride flag. Learn more about LGBTQ+ Flags and their meanings.
Pride Month is for everyone to embrace who they are and let the world know — in style! The rainbow appropriately signifies the colorful activities of this month-long celebration. These include rallies, pride parades, parties, workshops, concerts, and countless more LGBTQ+ events to attract participants from all over. The Pride community takes great pride in their movement, going all out for the festivities with elaborate costumes, makeup, and more!
Originally the last Sunday in June was celebrated as “Gay Pride Day,” but the actual day was flexible. President Bill Clinton first designated it as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month on June 11, 1999, with President Barack Obama proclaiming it Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month 10 years later.
Commemorations and memorials are also held for members of the community who have lost their lives to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS. Campaigns and rallies aim to promote and preserve the history and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and transgender community.
For additional resources and information:
2023 St. Louis Pride Festival and Parade
Saturday, June 24th – Sunday, June 25th, 2023
Parade: June 25th from 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Theme: “Diversity Creates Community”
OUTmed invites you, your families, and colleagues to march at the Pride Parade
Additional Information:
Other Local Pride Month events:
- Queer Film Series – June 17th from 1:00-3:00 pm at St. Louis City Library – Carpenter Branch
- Pride Celebration Posters – June 9th from 3:00-4:45 pm at St. Louis City Library – Central Branch
Sites Offering Support:
- Happy Hippies Foundation – Non-profit Organization started by Miley Cyrus to fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ+ youth and other vulnerable populations.
- Mental Health America – Offers LGBTQ+ resources, podcasts and social shareables and graphics.
- The Trevor Project – Is the largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning young people.
Download Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth brochure (pdf)