Happy Pride Month! Celebrating love and acceptance doesn’t have to be limited to just one month out of the year of course, but June is an especially special month for the LGBTQ+ community. Every year, just as the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer, people from all over the country (and world) come together to celebrate and advocate for the people in this community. Pride Month commemorates years of struggle for civil rights and the ongoing pursuit of equal justice under the law for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community, as well as the accomplishments of LGBTQ individuals (Wallenfeldt 2022)

On May 31, 2022 President Joe Biden issued a Pride Proclamation officially recognizing June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month. “This month, we honor the resilience of LGBTQI+ people, who are fighting to live authentically and freely.  We reaffirm our belief that LGBTQI+ rights are human rights.  And we recommit to delivering protections, safety, and equality to LGBTQI+ families so that everyone can realize the full promise of America.” (Biden 2022). You can read the proclamation in its entirety here. 

America has made strides over the years in regards to gay rights, and it is exciting to be able to  celebrate these accomplishments throughout the month of June.

Significance of June

Back in June of 1969 in New York City, police raided the Stonewall Inn, which was a popular place for young members of the LGBTQ+ community. Prior to this moment in time, people sheepishly stood by and allowed the police to harass and poorly treat those who identified with this community. After this particular raid, the crowd began to fight back (now known as the Stonewall Riots) and this sparked a monumental movement towards gay rights in the United States. 

During the month of June, people from around the world gather to honor the LGBTQ+ community and the progress made throughout the years that allows these people the freedom to just be themselves. The first Pride Parade was in June 1970, and was spearheaded by civil rights activist Brenda Howard. Now, in the year 2022 parades are held worldwide and it is a way of celebrating the progress made for those in this community.

Another historic event to take place in the month of June happened on June 15, 2020 when the Supreme Court ruled that workplace discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals illegal. This decision was a huge victory for this community, and another step in the right direction when it comes to equality for everyone in our country. 

Obergefell v. Hodges

Another historical moment for this community also happened to fall in the month of June. On June 26, 2015 it was officially ruled illegal to ban same-sex marriages in the United States of America. The Supreme Court ultimately voted 5-4 in favor of the plaintiff, stating that it was unconstitutional to ban gay marriages. This date marked a significant turn towards inclusion and civil rights in the US. In the months following this ruling, it is estimated that nearly half a million same-sex couples were married in the United States. 

The Rainbow

In 1978 an openly gay man named Gilbert Baker decided to create a symbol of pride for the gay community. In his mind, he found flags to be the greatest symbol of pride so that is why he decided to design a flag. The various colors that make up the rainbow flag were chosen to signify the diversity and unity of the LGBTQ+ community. Nowadays, the rainbow flag is an international symbol that is proudly flown all over the world. 

During pride month festivities, a sea of rainbows can be seen everywhere you look, worn with pride by LGBTQ+ people and allies alike. 

Ways to Celebrate Pride 2022

Pride month is a time for everyone to celebrate, and truly embrace who they are without any judgment, questioning, or criticism. The LGBTQ+ community takes a lot of pride in this month-long celebration, and you can expect to see lots of rainbows, elaborate costumes, glitter, and joy. While this is a great celebration, it is also a reminder that there is a lot of ground left to cover when it comes to full equality and inclusion. 

Here are a few ways you can celebrate Pride Month 2022:

• Attend a parade, rally, or pride event in your city. 
• Become an ally or advocate for those in this community. This goes beyond just wearing a rainbow on your shirt, or changing your profile picture on social media to the Pride Flag. 
• Remain educated on the history of the LGBTQ+ community. Here is a timeline highlighting the different milestones (both good and bad) for the LGBTQ+ community throughout the years.
• Show your support to those in this community. Some ways you can do this include, using proper pronouns, not making assumptions of someone’s gender identity or sexual orientation, being mindful of not using antigay slurs, and being open minded and accepting of everyone.

HelloPrenup is Here For You

HelloPrenup supports equality, diversity, and inclusion, and is of the utmost importance. One way we have worked to incorporate this is by giving the option to use non-gender specific pronouns when drafting your prenuptial agreements. Individuals who don’t use the pronouns “she/hers” or “he/him” can instead be referred to as “they/them” when using HelloPrenup. Recognizing that using someone’s correct gender pronouns is one of the best ways you can show respect for an individual’s identity and we are proud to be able to offer this to our happy couples.

Happy Pride, 2022!

References:

A&E Television Networks. (2020, June 23). Same-sex marriage is made legal nationwide with Obergefell v. Hodges decision. History.com. Retrieved June 9, 2022, from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/obergefell-v-hodges-ruling-same-sex-marriage-legalized-nationwide 

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (n.d.). Why is pride month celebrated in June? Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 9, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/story/why-is-pride-month-celebrated-in-june 

TodayShow. (2022, May 23). What is Pride Month? everything you need to know about the observance. TODAY.com. Retrieved June 9, 2022, from https://www.today.com/life/holidays/pride-month-meaning-facts-rcna29427 

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Julia Rodgers

Julia Rodgers is HelloPrenup’s CEO and Co-Founder. She is a Massachusetts family law attorney and true believer in the value of prenuptial agreements. HelloPrenup was created with the goal of automating the prenup process, making it more collaborative, time efficient and cost effective. Julia believes that a healthy marriage is one in which couples can openly communicate about finances and life goals. You can read more about us here  Questions? Reach out to Julia directly at [email protected]. 

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