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Every June in the United States, 10s of millions of people across the country celebrate Pride Month. In June 2019 (the 50th anniversary year of the Stonewall Uprising), around 5 million people alone attended WorldPride in New York City. This annual celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community continues to grow as more people honor the history of the community and champion the fight for all to live as they are.
There are so many ways—big and small—to celebrate Pride Month, whether you’re a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, an ally or an advocate. Here are some things to know about Pride Month along with ways anyone can celebrate this June!
What is Pride Month?
Pride Month is a month dedicated to uplifting, celebrating and supporting the LGBTQIA+ community. In the United States, Pride Month takes place every June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, an event that began on June 28, 1969, in NYC, that changed the discourse surrounding LGBTQIA+ activism in the U.S.
While June 28th is recognized as Pride Day, the entire month of June is filled with Pride events, from parades to parties to workshops and more. And the United States isn’t alone in recognizing Pride Month—many countries around the world also celebrate it (some outside of the month of June) every year!
Why do we celebrate Pride Month?
Pride Month is about bringing people together to commemorate the LGBTQIA+ community’s campaign for civil rights and recognize that there’s still more to be done in the pursuit of equality and acceptance. It’s important to show solidarity to strengthen the community. When we gather together, we celebrate the community’s progress, show appreciation for their achievements, raise awareness for issues they face and support the right to love and to be who you are.
How can I celebrate Pride Month?
With approximately 400 Pride organizations held across the U.S. in June, there’s no shortage of ways to show your support of the LGBTQIA+ community and celebrate (especially as this number doesn’t include all of the smaller celebrations or ways people mark Pride Month).
Attend a Pride parade
Possibly the best-known Pride celebration, Pride parades are the perfect way to get out and celebrate with the community in a fun way. Check to see if your nearest city is holding a Pride parade or march and head out to cheer and dance with hundreds, thousands or maybe even millions of people!
Some of the biggest Pride parades in the U.S. include:
Go to a drag brunch or drag show
Everyone has heard of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and while the show is a fabulous introduction to the art of drag, it doesn’t compare to seeing a live show filled with incredible dancers, singers, comedians and glamor. Drag brunches have become a popular weekend activity for people looking for some great entertainment with their mimosas (don’t forget to bring a bunch of dollar bills so you can tip your favorite performers!), and there are even Drag Story Hours the whole family can enjoy.
Throw or attend a Pride party
If large crowds aren’t your thing (but being at great parties is), plan a Pride party! Decorate your heart out with tons of rainbow decor, serve up a yummy selection of snacks and drinks, curate a playlist of classic and current LGBTQIA+ anthems and, of course, encourage everyone to wear outfits that absolutely slay. You can find tons of decor, supplies and styles right in our curated Pride Shop!
Organize a fundraising event for a cause that supports the LGBTQIA+ community
There are tons of ways to celebrate Pride Month, but showing meaningful support for the LGBTQIA+ community is one of the best ways to celebrate (if not THE best). You can organize and host an event focused specifically on an LGBTQIA+ cause, or simply add a fundraiser to your Pride party. With Evite, you can add a fundraiser or crowdfunding right to your invitation so your guests can give easily and securely.
Two causes to consider supporting:
The world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people.
Committed to creating a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued and affirmed.
Create an LGBTQIA+ network at work if you don’t already have one
While many workplaces have an LGBTQIA+ network as part of their DIB (Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging) programs, if yours doesn’t have one yet, consider volunteering to create one! LGBTQIA+ networks offer members of the community (along with allies and advocates) a place to contribute, grow, be supported, support, learn and feel safe. In addition to uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community within your company, your network can also make an impact outside of the workplace through community action and volunteerism.
We recommend reaching out to LGBTQIA+ employees, allies and advocates to gauge interest in creating a group. Then, reach out to HR to submit a formal request to create the group. How your network will function really depends on what the group wants and the size of your organization, but peer-to-peer support, open discussions and volunteer opportunities are some of the ways your Pride network can flourish in a meaningful way.
Join a book club or discussion group that features LGBTQIA+ topics
A great way to learn more about LGBTQIA+ topics is to discuss them with others, especially with people who are part of the community. Book clubs are a wonderful way to meet and discuss with others—especially if you love to read (check out Bookclubs to find one near you)! If you prefer to sit, listen and absorb, search to see if there’s a lecture or discussion group in your area to participate in.
Support LGBTQIA+ businesses and creators
Put your money where your Pride is (and do it all year long!). One of the most fun ways to support the community is by shopping! Look for products and businesses created or owned by a member of the LGBTQIA+ community (Etsy, Target and Amazon alone have tons of amazing ones to shop) and enjoy both your new purchases and knowing you’re supporting someone.
Watch films and programs that showcase LGBTQIA+ stories
The magic of films, television shows and theater is their ability to tell a story that helps us, the audience, relate to and understand others better. From heartwarming LGBTQIA+ stories like “Heartstopper,” “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” and “Red, White & Royal Blue,” to real, groundbreaking documentaries like “We’re Here” and “Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt,” to the incredibly moving miniseries “It’s a Sin,” there are plenty of amazing stories to immerse yourself in and better understand the history and feelings of the community.
Learn more about the history of Pride Month and uplift the community all year long
The full history of Pride Month and everything you can do to support the LGBTQIA+ community cannot possibly be addressed in only one article. While Pride Month itself is only 30 days long, celebrating, supporting and learning more about the community is important all year long. If you’re an ally or advocate of the community, event planner and creative director Jove Meyer of Jove Meyer Events has a powerful Ally Pledge on his website to read and use in your own life. Shopping LGBTQIA+ businesses, participating in discussions, enjoying drag shows and reading books are wonderful ways to support the community and further your education.
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