2. In Boston, Pride Parade weekend is Saturday and Sunday. The parade kicks off Saturday at noon in Copley Square and runs through the South End before arriving at a festival on City Hall Plaza. The Pride festival will be held on City Hall Plaza from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. and includes a number of performances, exhibits, and food options. Boston Pride has a schedule on its website. June is Pride Month, which means that Boston and cities across New England (and the country) are playing host to parades, festivals, and other events for LGBTQ communities. June has been an important month for the LGBTQ community for nearly five decades, and not just because of Pride. Whether you or your loved ones are going to the 48th annual Pride Parade Saturday in Boston, or an event elsewhere, here’s some context.Boston’s festivities continue through Sunday, with the parade and festival Saturday and block parties happening Saturday and Sunday. Providence holds its Pride celebration on June 16, and events in Portland, Maine, continue through June 17. Salem’s Pride events are held June 23, as are events in Portsmouth, N.H. 4. It’s no coincidence that these events are in June. Nor is it a coincidence that so many cities hold their events at the end of the month. On June 28, 1969, patrons at the Stonewall Inn, a bar in Greenwich Village for the LGBTQ community, resisted a police raid. That event is often considered the beginning of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, not just in New York City but in the United States. A year later, the Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee commemorated the Stonewall riots with the Gay Pride March. In 2015, The Stonewall Inn was named a city landmark. A year later, it was dedicated as the first national monument to gay rights. The Stonewall Inn and the night that made it iconic were featured in the 2015 movie “Stonewall,” though it was criticized for focusing on a fictional cisgender white male character rather than black and transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson, who was considered instrumental in the riots, according to The Washington Post. The Stonewall Inn in Manhattan's Greenwich Village in 2015. Brendan McDermid/Reuters/File 2015 5. Boston and Massachusetts played significant roles as well. A year after the Pride March in New York, activists marched in Boston in June 1971. A few years later, the Gay Community News was founded. According to a 2013 essay in the Globe, the Gay Community News was headquartered on Bromfield Street and became an influential weekly newspaper with national reach and a reputation of exclusive reporting on gay issues in the 1970s. Advertisement Statewide, Massachusetts contributed several LGBTQ firsts. Elaine Noble was the country’s first openly gay state representative. US Representative Gerry E. Studds was the first openly gay member of Congress after he was outed in 1983. Congressman Barney Frank was one of the first politicians to come out publicly. And in May 2004, Massachusetts was the first state where same-sex couples could get legally married. Advertisement 6. The rainbow flag that’s associated with the LGBTQ movement debuted at a Pride event 40 years ago this year. It was at a Pride parade in San Francisco that Gilbert Baker unveiled the first flags, which originally had eight colors, according to a New York Times obituary for Baker in 2017. Baker was a self-described “gay Betsy Ross” who had become known among his circle of friends for his creative banners, the Times wrote. Before the 1978 Pride parade, San Francisco city supervisor and gay rights leader Harvey Milk asked Baker to create something to represent the movement, the obituary explained. With help from volunteers, Baker made flags, with each stripe signifying something different, according to the obituary: “pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sun, green for nature, turquoise for magic, blue for peace, and purple for spirit.” The flag was later edited to six colors because of the expense of pink fabric, the Times wrote. Advertisement In 1978, Gilbert Baker hand-dyed and stitched together eight strips of colored fabric, creating an international symbol. SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES/FILE 2016 7. A new variation of the flag debuted in Philadelphia last year. Philadelphia’s Office of LGBT Affairs launched the #MoreColorMorePride campaign “in support of racial diversity, equality and inclusion in the LGBTQ neighborhoods of the city,” according to the office’s website. This included a new flag that had the six colors that had endured for decades, plus black and brown stripes. Reaction was mixed, with some people hailing the move as inclusive of people of color and others called the changes unnecessary. 8. June 26 has taken on significance. The US Supreme Court has issued some important decisions affecting the LGBTQ community, all on June 26. On June 26, 2003, a 6-to-3 ruling struck down state laws against sodomy. On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a key portion of the Defense of Marriage Act on a 5-to-4 vote. That same day, the Supreme Court also ruled that backers of Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage, lacked standing to defend the 2008 law because California’s governor and attorney general declined to defend the ban. And on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples have a right to marry anywhere in the United States. At the time, same-sex marriage was allowed in 36 states. The court’s ruling meant the remaining 14 states, in the South and Midwest, would have to stop enforcing their bans on same-sex marriage. Gay rights activists reacted outside the US Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2013. MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images/File 2013 9. June is not the only month that cities have Pride events. If you can’t make it to any of the events in June, there will be Pride events in September in Worcester, Hartford, and Vermont. In Boston, there have already been some Pride events, including Boston Black Pride in February and Boston Latinx Pride in April, according to Boston Pride’s website. 10. Pride Month is not the only important date for the LGBTQ community.<doc-sep>Every year during the month of June, the LGBTQ community celebrates and is celebrated in honor of the Stonewall Riots that took place in June of 1969. The riots are frequently used as the marker for the start of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York City, a bar that catered to and provided a space for members of the LGBTQ community. While the practice was fairly common, that night people fought back, according to GLAAD. The protest created a national movement of activism and protests nationwide for the equal treatment and protection of members of the LGBTQ community. Today, a full month is dedicated to awareness and events around the LGBTQ community—but that wasn't always the case. Before there was pride month, there was a pride day that was celebrated on the last Sunday in June each year. Over time, the day turned into a month of events across the country. Pride Month events offer people in the community an affirming atmosphere to celebrate and "to come together, take stock and recognize the advances and setbacks made in the past year," according to GLAAD. The month includes a series of events across states and cities in the United States and in other countries around the world. This year parades are planned from New York City to Los Angeles. Washington D.C., Anchorage, Alaska, Boston and Chicago all have parades scheduled to take place this month. Some cities, like London, plan to hold the parades after the month of June: London's parade is July 7 this year. Rainbows Around the World: LGBT Pride Month 2018 Parades in Photos In some places, groups also plan pride events for minorities within the LGBTQ community. In the 1990s, black pride celebrations emerged for those who felt mainstream pride events didn't include or represent their experiences. In more recent years, events have been more inclusive of people who identify as a minority group as well as for women who are part of the LGBT community, according to GLAAD. Other events include picnics, concerts, workshops, memorials and more. Though the month was celebrated and recognized as pride by many for decades following the Stonewall riots, it wasn't until the 90s that it was made official. The General Assembly of the National Education Association passed a resolution in 1995 that officially added Pride Month to a list of other dedicated months, according to the Library of Congress. SaveSave<doc-sep>LGBT Pride Month is celebrated in the United States every year in June. Every summer in the United States, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and allies come together for a month-long celebration of love, diversity, acceptance and unashamed self-pride. Here's everything you need to know about LGBT Pride Month. What is LGBT Pride Month? The commemorative month is meant to recognize the sweeping impact that LGBT individuals, advocates and allies have on history in the U.S. and around the globe, according to the Library of Congress When is it? LGBT Pride Month is celebrated every year in June, with a series of events and parades taking place across the nation. Why is it in June? The month of June was chosen for LGBT Pride Month to commemorate the riots held by members of the LGBT community against a police raid that took place at the Stonewall Inn in New York City on June 28, 1969. The so-called Stonewall riots were a "tipping point" for the gay liberation movement in the United States, according to the Library of Congress. The uproar also paved the way for the modern fight for LGBT rights. Previous presidents of the United States have, on several occasions, officially declared June as LGBT Pride Month. How do people celebrate LGBT Pride Month? LGBT Pride Month events draw millions of participants from around the world each year. Today, the month-long celebrations include pride parades, marches, parties, concerts, workshops and symposiums across the nation. Memorials are also often held for members of the LGBT community who have lost their lives to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The rainbow LGBT flag is prominently displayed throughout the month. Gilbert Baker, an American artist, gay rights activist and U.S. Army veteran, created the flag in 1978 as a new symbol for the gay and lesbian political movement, at the suggestion of his friends and colleagues, including Harvey Milk, a San Francisco city supervisor and the first openly gay elected official in California. Milk was assassinated later that year. According to Baker's website, the colors of the LGBT flag each have a meaning: red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony and violet for spirit. Baker died at the age of 65 on March 31, 2017, though his rainbow flag remains an iconic, powerful symbol for LGBT pride. Where will LGBT Pride Month events take place this year? A slew of official events will be held in various cities across the nation throughout the month of June. Here are some of the more prominent celebrations. Los Angeles The 2018 LA Pride Festival will be held in West Hollywood Park on June 9 and 10, beginning at noon local time. Singers Kehlani and Tove Lo will headline the event, along with a diverse lineup of other musicians and performers. The 2018 LA Pride Parade will take place on June 10, starting at 11 a.m. local time along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. San Francisco SF Pride will host two days of community engagement and entertainment at the Civic Center Plaza on June 23, starting at noon local time, and on June 24, beginning at 11 a.m. local time. The SF Pride Parade will take place on June 24, beginning at 10:30 a.m. local time along Market Street. SF Pride's official VIP party, Under the Rotunda, will be held at City Hall on June 24 at 2 p.m. local time. New York City NYC Pride's first ever Human Rights Conference will be held at SUNY Global Center on June 14 at 8 a.m. local time The Pride Luminaries Brunch will take place at David Burke Kitchen on June 17 at noon local time. OutCinema, a three-day event celebrating LGBT pride and community on film, will have specially curated screenings followed by Q&As and open-bar after parties at SVA Theatre on June 18 at 6:45 p.m. local time. The LGBT Community Center's Garden Party at Hudson River Park's Pier 84 will feature a diverse selection of tastings from restaurants around New York City on June 18 at 6 p.m. local time. Family Movie Night, one of the only free NYC Pride events for families and children, will show Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" at Hudson River Park's Pier 45 on June 19 at 6:30 p.m. local time. NYC Pride and God's Love We Deliver will host a fundraiser, Savor Pride, where renowned LGBT and ally chefs will cook five different dishes while providing in-depth demonstrations, discussions and tastings on June 21, starting at 6 p.m. local time. The NYC Pride Rally will take place at the historic Stonewall National Monument on June 22 at 5 p.m. local time. NYC Pride weekend kicks off in leather with a night party, Fantasy: Leather Edition, at Slate on June 22 at 10 p.m. local time. NYC Pride will host its first Cosplay event aboard a sunset cruise that embarks from Hudson River Park's Pier 40 on June 22 at 7 p.m. local time. The VIP Rooftop Party will be take place with plenty of dancing and spectacular views at Hudson Terrace on June 23, starting at 2 p.m. local time. NYC Pride's largest female identified event, Teaze HER, will be held at The D.L. on June 23, beginning at 5 p.m. local time. NYC Pride's Masterbeat event will transform the legendary Hammerstein Ballroom into a mega-club on June 23 at 10 p.m. local time. Tove Lo and Kylie Minogue will be among the artists performing for this year's Pride Island at Hudson River Park's Pier 97 on June 23 and 24, beginning at 2 p.m. local time. LGBT youth and their friends can enjoy interactive experiences, games and entertainment at Youth Pride at 14th Street Park on June 23 at noon local time. The annual NYC Pride March on June 24 will begin at 7th Avenue and 16th Street at noon local time. PrideFest will ring in its 25th year as the annual LGBT street fair at University Place between 13th Street and Waverly Place on June 24 at 11 a.m. local time.<doc-sep>This year alone, President Donald Trump has recognized January as National Mentoring Month, March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and April as Second Chance Month. He has already declared the month of June to be National Homeownership Month, National Ocean Month, Great Outdoors Month and National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. But one proclamation is — once again — conspicuously absent from the White House website: LGBTQ Pride Month. When running for office, Trump promised to be an LGBTQ-friendly Republican and, during Pride Month 2016, tweeted his support for the community. Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 14, 2016 At the 2016 Republican National Convention, Trump noted the Pulse nightclub shooting and became the first GOP presidential nominee to directly address the LGBTQ community from a convention podium. “As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology,” Trump said at the time. This October 30, 2016, photo shows then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump holding a rainbow flag given to him by supporter Max Nowak during a campaign rally at the Bank of Colorado Arena on the campus of University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images But after ascending to the presidency, things appear to have changed. Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, his administration removed references to LGBTQ people from a number of federal government websites. Trump also disbanded the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS, which since 1995 had advised presidents on HIV/AIDS policy. Trump did, however, declare December 1 to be World AIDS Day, though in his 2017 proclamation he did not mention the LGBTQ community, which is disproportionately impacted by the virus. A number of the president’s appointees have also been criticized by LGBTQ advocates for their extensive records of opposing gay rights. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has a long anti-LGBTQ track record, even reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage during his confirmation hearing in April. In perhaps President Trump’s most direct attempt to roll back recent gains made by the LGBTQ community, he attempted in July 2017 to ban transgender people from serving “in any capacity” in the military with a series of surprise tweets. LGBTQ Pride Month was first proclaimed by President Bill Clinton in June 1999, and then again in June 2000, though back then it was called Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. In his statement, Clinton noted that he signed the 1998 executive order that made it possible for people of any sexual orientation to work in the federal government and to receive security clearances. “Today, more openly gay and lesbian individuals serve in senior posts throughout the Federal Government than during any other Administration,” Clinton’s June 2000 proclamation stated. President George W. Bush declined to declare June as Pride Month, and it was not until the election of Barack Obama that the tradition started again. Obama issued a proclamation every year he was in office. “All people deserve to live with dignity and respect, free from fear and violence, and protected against discrimination, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation,” Obama’s June 2015 proclamation read. “During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, we celebrate the proud legacy LGBT individuals have woven into the fabric of our Nation, we honor those who have fought to perfect our Union, and we continue our work to build a society where every child grows up knowing that their country supports them, is proud of them, and has a place for them exactly as they are.” This June 26, 2015, photo shows rainbow-colored lights shining on the White House to celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage in all 50 states. Mark Wilson / Getty Images Later that month, when the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case and legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, President Obama ordered the White House be flooded with rainbow lights. “Unlike the Trump administration, the Democratic Party stands with LGBTQ communities across America and around the world and we are proud to celebrate Pride Month,” Lucas Acosta, director of LGBTQ Media for the Democratic National Committee, told NBC News. “We believe that no one should face discrimination, bullying, or violence because of who they are or who they love. And we will never stop fighting for the equality every human being deserves.” Chad Griffin, president of national LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, said while causes like National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, which was recognized in May by the White House, are worthy of recognition, Pride Month's absence is a red flag. "It is clear that failing to recognize Pride Month is intentional, just as it was last year," Griffin told NBC News. "Trump and Pence are obsessed with erasing us. But we will not be erased, and in November, the White House is due for a rude awakening on their blatant discrimination.” The White House did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment. FOLLOW NBC OUT ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM<doc-sep>
LGBTQ Pride Month, also referred to as Gay Pride Month, or LGBT Pride Month, takes place every June. There are pride parades held in many cities, along with several pride festivals such as Motor City Pride in Detroit and NYC Pride. Most of these events take place on the weekends, although there will also be a smattering of weekday options nationwide. LGBTQ Pride Month traces its roots back to the Stonewall Riots in 1969. New York City police raided a gay club, the Stonewall Inn, on June 28, 1969. Per the History Channel, many officers used brutal force while arresting 13 members of the local LGBTQ community. They also subjected transgender individuals and anyone suspected of cross-dressing to a physical inspection by female officers. Anyone caught not wearing "gender appropriate clothing" was taken into custody. This sparked a series of protests and violent outbursts throughout the neighborhood. LGBT activists fought against the police for five days in a show of frustration for their lack of rights. Although this wasn't the first spark in the gay rights movement, it fully ignited the flame that would eventually lead to same-sex marriage being legalized in the United States. Today, the LGBTQ community celebrates throughout June to honor the people who participated in the groundbreaking Stonewall Riots. Pride Month is also used to call attention to current activism topics that affect the entire community. Additionally, a large emphasis is placed on raising awareness and trying to cultivate a nationwide culture of inclusivity and acceptance for LGBTQ individuals. Happy Pride Month! June was designated as the month to celebrate the #LGBTQIA community because the #Stonewall Riots happened on June 28th 1969. The following year, the Christopher Street Liberation Day Committee marked the anniversary with a Gay Pride March. #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/isglb9rk7o — HISTORY (@HISTORY) June 1, 2018 Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama formally acknowledged Pride Month during their time in office. Meanwhile, current President Donald J. Trump hasn't officially mentioned LGBTQ Pride Month since taking office, as reported by NBC News Instead, the Trump Administration has stood in opposition to many LGBTQ rights issues, including President Trump's decision to sign a ban intended to prevent any transgender people from serving in the military, as reported by the BBC. The Justice Department also tried unsuccessfully to sway a federal judge into allowing employers to legally discriminate against LGBTQ employees, per the New York Times. Trump did court LGBTQ voters in 2016, as Quartz reported, but only one year later, he spoke at an anti-LGBT rally, as Indy100 reported. I #WearOrange for my daughter - a member of the LGBTQ community. She should be able to go where she wants and do what she wants without the fear of being the victim of an armed stranger who hates her because she’s gay. #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/YKsILZbu1h — Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) June 1, 2018 Happy Pride Month, New York! This June let's celebrate the progress we've fought for while remembering the work still left to do. We will never stop fighting for full #LGBTQ equality. pic.twitter.com/OR756e38UL — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 1, 2018 These political issues are a hot button topic for this year's Pride Month. Pride Parades nationwide are virtually certain to contain numerous protest signs in response to the Trump Administration's policies. Some of the nation's biggest parades will take place in Los Angeles (June 10), San Francisco (June 24), and New York City (June 24). Washington, D.C. will also host the Capital Pride Parade on June 9.New York City is well-poised to be the leader for LGBTQ Pride Month 2018. A diverse list of events will be open to community members and their supportive loved ones, including a large Pride Island concert featuring Kylie Minogue and Tove Lo. No matter where you are, though, you should be able to find a local LGBTQ Pride Month event sometime during June.