Colorful parades, joyous picnics, and inspiring festivals are becoming entrenched in June around the world to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The tradition began as a commemoration of when members of the queer community, in 1969, fought back against the violence of anti-gay police at the Stonewall Inn in New York. It signaled a new resistance and sense of pride by all who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and questioning.

Pride month is also a time to reflect on the progress that has since been made, like Obergefell v. Hodges, the supreme court ruling guaranteeing the fundamental right of same-sex couples to marry. In addition, in 2003, the Lawrence v. Texas decision upheld the protection of the Constitution that all people have a right to intimate relationships and to “retain their dignity as free persons.”

These landmark decisions and others impacted employment rights, health care, and other accepted rights for all.

Pride month is also a time to reflect on how much progress there is still to make for diversity, equity, and inclusion.  As a child welfare agency, we regularly see the tragic results of parents locking their children out of their homes and lives because of their sexual or gender identity and youths’ struggle against violence and discrimination for being their true selves.

One-third of kids in foster care identify as LGBTQ+. At the same time, in the general population, they only represent 4.5%, and they have a 120% greater risk of homelessness than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts.

Shelter is proud to participate in Pride Month, and we look forward to the day when parades, picnics, and festivals celebrate that all children are genuinely raised in safe and loving homes. Until then, the more we learn and work together, the more children will celebrate with pride.

Learn more about Gay Pride:

Where and When To Join the Celebration
History of Gay Pride Month
Be an LGBTQ+ Youth Ally