More Than Rainbows: The History Behind Pride
As we approach June, many of us begin to feel the excitement of Pride right around the corner. Pride is a time for fun, community, and being yourself — but it is also a time for honoring and remembering where the LGBTQ+ community has come from.
Most people know about Stonewall and the riots that many view as the turning point for LGBTQ+ rights, but there is so much more to the story than the riot on June 28th, 1969. The queer community had already been fighting for years before Stonewall happened.
In the 1960s, being “homosexual” was illegal in much of the United States. Police were often able to harass, arrest, and extort members of the community. Many queer people frequented bars run by the mob because there were very few safe places where they could openly exist as themselves.
But even in the face of discrimination and criminalization, the community continued to organize, advocate, and resist.
Some important moments in LGBTQ+ history before Stonewall include:
1950: The Mattachine Society was created and became one of the earliest organizations advocating for gay rights.
1948 & 1953: The Kinsey Reports challenged stigmas surrounding sexuality and the queer community.
1955: The Daughters of Bilitis formed and became one of the first lesbian organizations advocating for the community.
1959: The Cooper’s Donuts Riot in Los Angeles signaled growing frustration with police violence and harassment against LGBTQ+ individuals.
1950s–1960s: The Homophile Movement gained momentum and helped bring organizations together in the fight for equal rights.
1966: The Compton’s Cafeteria Riot occurred in San Francisco, focusing heavily on police harassment toward drag queens and trans women — three years before Stonewall.
This history is proof not only that we demand to be seen and maintain basic human rights, but that we have always existed. We have been here since the beginning of time. We were here then, we are still here now, and we will always be here.
So as Pride celebrations begin, we can hold both joy and remembrance at the same time. We can celebrate the resilience of the community while honoring the people who fought before us. And we can continue fighting for a future where younger generations grow up knowing they are loved, accepted, and wanted exactly as they are.