A Rainbow in US

As witnessed today with hundreds of thousands of people coming together with no fear, with less shame and more love, Pride when seen in hindsight was not always the same. It was an act of celebrating the lives of those who were ostracised by the so-called society, but more importantly, it was an act of togetherness for a rebellion. When pressed the reverse button and watched from the beginning, Pride was not as glittery, as vibrant, as spirited and as safe as it is now. With global pandemic striking the world at its Achilles Heel and leading to the disruption of lives, it was made sure that Pride 'still got celebrated'. Even though it's hard to find hope during these times, we must recall that we had been here together even before, that Pride was a movement against inequity and that granting rights to few and snatching illicitly from others is not what one must call equality. 

Together We Are War (The Beginning) - 

On the early morning of 28th June 1969, eight police officers from NYC public morals, a unit of the police department, raided a gay bar at 43 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. This particular raid didn't turn as it was thought, for this time many members and patrons of the war fought back. One of the most notable figures of the movement Martha P. Johnson was also present in the bar during the raid. When police forcefully entered the bar she hurled a stone into the mirror and shouted: "I got my civil rights". Today the shot is known as " the shot glass that was heard around the world". In no time hundreds of members from nearby bar joined the resistance against police oppression and in no time mayhem emerged. The police force was compelled to step back. Things eventually rested for the day, but the anger was sparked and the fire of rebellion soon spread across the globe.

 The gay bar was Stonewall inn which emerged as the epicentre of the riots for equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT). When looked a few pages back this was not the first time when riots against the brutality of the police on the non-binary broke out. We can trace back such scenarios even in the 1920s. But the Stonewall Inn acted as the catalyst and thus began a series of events which continue to breathe even today. 

Rainbow in the Street ( Pride Parade) - 

Craig Rodwell along his partners proposed the idea of Pride March at the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations, in the early fall of 1969. All the major organizations which attended the conference gave a green signal to the decision. Preparations for the March began in early January. At first, it was a tough task to get an alliance of major LGBT organizations of NYC. Since Pride has always been a rebellion against those organizations and the government which considers LGBTQ+ lesser than other humans, therefore, no help was taken from either. As a result of which Pride, in the beginning, was highly underfunded and that was one of the major hindrances. Though today many Pride Parade organizers take financial support from government and capitalists, which is considered against the true spirit. 

Christopher Street Liberation Day on the 28th June of the following the year of riot marked an anniversary of the breakout. It was on this day when the first Pride March was organized in the history of the US. An excerpt from the New York Times stated,

"There was little open animosity, and some bystanders applauded when a tall, pretty girl carrying a sign "I am a Lesbian" walked by."

Giving Voice to the Unsaid (terms) -

Brenda Howard renowned as the 'Mother of Pride" was a bisexual activist and a coordinator of the first March. She is also known for coming up with the idea of a weeklong celebration around Pride Day. Along with another bisexual activist Martin alias Donny the Dunk and gay activists Schoonmaker, Howard popularised the term "Pride". Pride as the opposite of shame reflects the fight against the social stigma. Later, Tomi Limoncelli (bisexual activists) stated that " next time someone asks you why march exists and why in June, tell them 'A bisexual woman named Howard thought it should be'".

Back in those days, homosexuality was synonymous to mental illness. It was considered (and even today) that by medical help a person could be treated. Not only it brings shame, guilt and a feeling of aloofness for homosexual people but also a feeling of worthlessness. To fight such social stigma Frank Kamney came forwards with the slogan 'Gay is Good'. 

Gay right activist Thomas Higgins crafted the term 'Gay Pride'. This came in use after a cultural shift in the 1980s and replaced other terms such as Gay Liberation and Gay Freedom. Gay Pride began the promotion of dignity, equality and self-acceptance of more and more lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender. This also promoted the members of LGBTQ+  to live life as a normal social group. 

Rainbow sky in hometown (Pride in India) -

India's first Pride known as Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk was held back in July of 1999. It witnessed a total of 15 participants with no women. Till 2005 Pride March was exclusive to Kolkata. Then in 2008, Delhi, Bengaluru and Puducherry held a march in coordination with Kolkata. In 2009, one of the major pride marches started in Chennai known as Chennai Rainbow Pride. After 20 years, today Pride March and celebration are held in 21 cities across the country.

Pride and the rainbow within (significance) - 

With the Stonewall Inn riot acting as a catapult to the struggles of the LGBTQ+ members and the spread of the movement like a wildfire one can say that we have come along way from what it was. But it doesn't here. Not anytime soon. Pride is not a mere movement but a way of living. 

A study in the US showed that homosexual children are more likely to suffer from mental health issues such an anxiety, depression and panic attacks. 3 out of 4 homosexual youths are likely to be sexually harassed and assaulted. The number of homosexuals among homeless people is higher than ever. All of this indicates the dire state of LGBTQ+ members even today.

Pride is about accepting oneself as we are, it is about standing against social stigma which says that only heterosexuality is the true sexuality, it is about equality for all who are alienated and left behind, it is about fighting for the right to live as we are. There is a Pride that left is unseen and unheard in most of us. Today Pride is needed more than ever. 

And let us not forget what Barack Obama said in the 2016 proclamation speech of the Pride Month,

"...that love is love and that no person should be judged by anything but the content of their character".

Parth sharma

Bjmc- II