Here’s all you need to know about queer pride month
Every year, the month of June is celebrated as Pride month, a month dedicated to LGBTQ+ community members
Hyderabad: Check Google doodle today and enjoy the colourful celebration of Pride month with a doodle of an old man. Every year, the month of June is celebrated as Pride month, a month dedicated to LGBTQ+ community members. The old man in the doodle is Frank Kameny, an American gay rights activist and astronomer.
Kameny joined the US Army Map Service in 1957. Few months later, he was terminated from service for being homosexual. He fought for his rights by suing the federal government and in 1961 filed the first gay rights appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1975, the civil service commission finally reversed its ban on LGBTQ employees. In 2009, over 50 years after his dismissal, Kameny received a formal apology from the U.S. government.
June and Pride month
So, why is the month of June decided to be the pride month? Back in 1969, American Constitution had laws that ban homosexuality and police raids were frequent at queer bars. The Greenwich Village’s Stonewall Inn was such a queer bar and on June 28th police raided there which lead to a riot between cops and community members. This initiated strong protests which lasted for several days. On the first anniversary of the riots, LGBTQ+ community members organised a parade and the tradition continued every year.
Thus June 28th is celebrated as the World Pride Day and the entire month is Pride month. It’s the month to remember the fights of queer community members such as Kameny and others against homophobia. Also it throws light to the fact that how much more is left to achieve for equality.
Indian scenario
In India, consensual gay sex becomes legal in 2018 with Supreme Court saying that sexual orientation is natural and people have no control over it. But the same sex marriage is not yet legalised. In a first in the country, a transgender community desk was opened in Hyderabad in this year.
So, let’s celebrate the pride month by realising that there’s much more to achieve.
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