Dating back to famous ancient civilizations, there has been evidence of same-sex love and sexuality. There is reference to people of varying identities and sexualities woven into the histories of many cultures around the world. With regards to the history of Pride, the UK held the first Pride march in London on Saturday 1st July 1972. The date was chosen as it was the nearest Saturday to the anniversary of the riots, at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, where LGBT+ patrons had been targeted by the New York Police Department. Pride marches have since become annual events throughout the world.
In the UK, Pride is a month-long celebration in June and often features parades, town parties and celebrations. It is important that during Pride, we recognise the effects of LGBT pioneers and how far they have helped our society. It is also a reminder that there is still a long way to go to ensure that all individuals are liberated, visible and equal. During this Pride month, take some time to reflect on your own practices in acceptance.
Over the years, the LGBT acronym has grown to include other areas of identity. We commonly see the acronym LGBTQIA+ now although this doesn’t include all the possible identities, such as non-binary and gender fluid. The main acronym refers to:
Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Transgender
Queer or Questioning
Intersex
Asexual