June marks Pride Month in many parts of the world – a time to celebrate LGBTQIA+ communities and honour their resilience.
Throughout the month, communities will participate in parades, festivals and events to foster inclusivity, promote understanding and celebrate the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities.
Held each year in June, Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
What happened at the Stonewall Riots?
The Stonewall Inn, a popular LGBTQIA+ friendly bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village, was targeted by a police raid on 28 June 1969 – a common occurrence in the area because at the time, homosexuality was illegal in the United States and places of business could be shut down for having gay employees or serving gay patrons.
The police raid quickly escalated with Stonewall Inn bar staff and patrons resisting the police, tired of being continually discriminated against simply for who they were. This initial resistance led to protests and demonstrations that continued for several days and marked a turning point in the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement.
It laid the foundation for what we now know as Pride.
Pride in Australia
Pride Month has been celebrated in Australia since the 1970s. The first Mardi Gras occurred on 24 June 1978, as an event to celebrate gay and lesbian culture and to protest the discrimination they faced every day. However, the march down Oxford Street ended with police arrests and violence against protestors.
The following months saw many wins and losses for LGBTQIA+ rights, but by April 1979 the NSW Summary Offences Act legislation, which had allowed the arrests, was repealed.
From then on, Mardi Gras gained momentum as a symbol of hard-won civil rights for the LGBTQIA+ community. The event was moved from June to Summer and now includes several community events alongside the annual protest and parade.
Around the world
We are each protected against discrimination based on our sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression and sex characteristics under international human rights law.
However, in practice, authorities in many countries that have signed international treaties, committing them to protect human rights, continue to implement and introduce legislations that singles out and discriminates against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.
There are 64 countries around the world which have laws that criminalise homosexuality, many of which can be traced back to European colonisation.
In some countries, such as Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Uganda and in the northern states in Nigeria, people can be sentenced to the death penalty if they engage in consensual same-sex sexual acts.
Pride is marked differently in countries across the world. Many communities in Australia organise parades, marches and concerts that bring LGBTI people, allies, and the public together. But in other places, pride is actively shut down by governments and law enforcement agencies, leading to security risks for those participating.
Melike and Özgür dedicated themselves to defending lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI+) rights at their university in Ankara, Turkey. In 2019, they faced trial simply for expressing their right to protest and organise a Pride march. They were finally acquitted in 2022 after 445,000 people from over 43 countries demanded their acquittal during Amnesty’s Write for Rights campaign.
Human rights are my Pride
What began as a protest for LGBTQIA+ rights continues as an iconic pillar in the community as a platform for advocacy, connection, visibility, and celebration. It is a strong recognition of our journey towards equality and a reminder that we have come a long way – but there is still so much to do.
Everyone should be treated equally under the law. Everyone should have a right to be their true self. And love should be universally recognised simply for what it is – love.
Here are some ways you can show your support this Pride Month:
LEARN
Some relevant resources:
- LGBTQIA+ Ally Guide | Free download
- 4 ways to be an LGBTQIA+ ally this Mardi Gras
- 5 ways to take meaningful action for trans lives in Australia
- 5 inclusive language tips you need to know about
JOIN PRIDE EVENTS
These vibrant gatherings are a cornerstone of Pride Month, offering a space for celebration, visibility and community. Look for events in your local area.
USE INCUSIVE LANGUAGE
Use gender-neutral language (try ‘folks’, ‘partner’ or ‘parents’), avoid assumptions and respect pronouns. Click here to learn more: ‘What are pronouns and why are they important?’
It’s important to note that you may make some mistakes and that happens! Changing how you speak can take some getting used to, but language is power. Correct your slip-up and move forward.
Simple actions in your day-to-day can help signal safety to those around you and make a big difference in supporting queer people, both during Pride Month and throughout the year.
Whether it’s wearing a bracelet or lanyard that acknowledges safety and support, using inclusive language, attending Pride events or advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights – these actions bring us one step closer to ensuring everyone has the right to be their true self.
TAKE ACTION
Despite progress made, the LGBTQIA+ community continue to suffer human rights abuses, evidenced by recent attacks on trans young people and their right to access healthcare.
A federal Human Rights Act would provide legal protection for the LGBTQIA+ community, and for everyone in Australia, by protecting human rights in our federal laws.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about a Human Rights Act.
