June is Pride Month!
In most places, Pride Month is celebrated in June each year, in commemoration of its roots in the Stonewall Riots of June 1969. For anyone who does not know the history, “The Stonewall Riots, also called the Stonewall Uprising, began in the early hours of June 28, 1969, when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village in New York City. The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents as police roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar on Christopher Street, in neighboring streets and in nearby Christopher Park. The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.” 1969 Stonewall Riots - Origins, Timeline & Leaders (history.com).
Inclusion and belonging are very important workplace topics where the focus is for organizations to commit to creating and fostering inclusive environments where all are welcome. Belonging is the feeling employees get when they experience psychological safety – that feeling that they can be their true authentic selves. Education and training in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging can foster an environment of inclusion, but it is important for us to continue to accept, welcome, and make all employees feel that they can be their true authentic selves at work.
Some facts about Pride Month:
The first gay pride parade took place on June 28, 1970.
In June 2000, President Bill Clinton officially designated June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, in recognition of the Stonewall Riots and gay activism throughout the years.
A more-inclusive name was chosen in 2009 by President Barack Obama: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.
In 2016, President Barack Obama created the Stonewall National Monument, a 7.7-acre around the Stonewall Inn where the modern gay rights movement began.
Today, Gay Pride parades in many cities are enormous celebrations: The events in Sao Paulo, Sydney, New York City, Madrid, Taipei and Toronto routinely attract up to 5 million attendees.
For more information about the training and development IntegriStar offers on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, please review IntegriStar’s training programs and other service offerings here.