In recognition of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month, KHTS has put together a short overview of the history of the Stonewall Uprising, one of the decisive events behind the movement for recognition of equal rights for all Americans regardless of gender presentation or sexual orientation.
June is now regularly recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan New York, which was a turning point for the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans across the United States.
The Santa Clarita City Council proclaimed the month of June as Pride Month to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community alongside their continuous work for equal justice and equal opportunity, according to Mayor Bill Miranda in their regularly scheduled Council meeting on Tuesday.
“The City recognizes (the LGBTQ community) and their tireless push for equality, not just in Santa Clarita, but across the nation. Pride Month is held annually in June to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising in New York City, an event that inspired activism across the country and led to the greater visibility of LGBTQ causes,” Miranda said during the meeting. “So much progress has been made over the last seven decades and there’s still more to be done to eliminate the discrimination of LGBTQ individuals.”
The Stonewall Uprising took place on June 28, 1969, when New York City Police served a search warrant for the illegal sale of alcohol and swept The Stonewall Inn. Patrons were collected, interrogated, and even forced to undergo physical searches to ensure that their appearance matched that of the sex that was written on their identification cards.
In New York in 1969, not only was homosexuality a criminal offense, it was illegal to wear fewer than three items of “gender-inappropriate” clothing, according to New York Penal Code 240.35, Subsection 4, as recorded by the Library of Congress.
Eventually, chaos erupted and a crowd of bystanders clashed with members of law enforcement in the first of a near weeklong event.
The raid on the Stonewall Inn inspired a wave of protests and rioting across the surrounding area for the next six days, involving several violent clashes with law enforcement. Eventually, the dust settled, but the Stonewall Uprising acted as a galvanizing moment in the fight for equality against discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ+ Americans.
The first Pride march in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a tradition that is continued across the world in thousands of cities to this day.
Happy Pride!
Pride represents so much for the LGBTQ+ community, for our nation, and for the world. It is a time to recall the trials of the LGBTQ+ community and to rejoice in the triumphs of trailblazing individuals who have bravely fought for full equality.
We have your back.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 1, 2021
As an extension of Pride month, it also offers the opportunity to recognize those who have lost their lives due to their sexual orientation or gender presentation, including those who have died due to HIV/AIDS, hate crimes and suicide.
Today, the Stonewall Inn has been designated as a national monument, and organizations and individuals across the world continue to work to advance the rights and recognition of members of the LGBTQ+ community.
In the Santa Clarita Valley, several local organizations have stepped up to offer support and resources for local members of the LGBTQ+ community, including the SCV LGBTQ Center and Queer SCV.
See Related: Santa Clarita Valley LGBTQ Center Offers Resources And ‘Community’ During Pride Month
Aiming to reduce LGBTQ social isolation and to stimulate community development, Queer SCV holds regular inclusive, intersectional events for Santa Clarita residents, according to Queer SCV.
Additionally, the SCV LGBTQ Center is working towards the creation of a permanent LGBTQ center in Santa Clarita, according to the center.
“During Pride Month, the City encourages residents to become educated on LGBTQ history and advocacy and connect with local LGBTQ organizations to offer support if possible,” Miranda said. “The City thanks the LGBTQ organizations within Santa Clarita that work hard every day to support our residents.”
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