History & Heritage: June

About

With June comes summertime weather…perfect for a parade! This month we recognize diversity in all shapes and sizes while honoring the struggle and sacrifices of those who came before us, especially those whose names have not been recorded in the history books. Pride is a relatively recent, albeit widespread, celebration dedicated to increasing the visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community. Throughout the month you can find events and parades from small towns to large cities full of people where every demographic comes together to celebrate their differences.

Origins

LGBT+ Pride Month is a time that we celebrate the vast mosaic of humanity and the differences that make us all wonderful and unique!
In 1999 and 2000 President Bill Clinton designated June to be Gay & Lesbian Pride Month. After that there was no official Pride Month until 2009 when President Barack Obama entered office; despite the lack of a federally recognized month, festivities continued across the nation from 2001-2008. In 2019 President Donald Trump became the first Republican in office to recognize a federal LGBT Pride Month, through a tweet. Before the month of June was selected to bring light to the LGBT community many queer people faced rampant discrimination out of ignorance and fear. However, today you can find many places that welcome queer folks with open arms, especially around Long Island. New York City is a hub of social progress essentially starting the American Gay Rights movement; while Fire Island has been one of the most popular LGBT+ vacation spots for decades. There is even a local sailing club for LGBT+ people and allies called the Knickerbocker Sailing Association based in and around the Tri-State Area.

June