June is the annual month of Gay Pride celebrations around the world. The concept of Gay Pride grew from the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Black Pride as a movement preceded Gay Pride. Black Pride was associated in media with Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael, leaders of Black Muslims and Black Panthers, respectively. Ironically, the African-American community in the U.S. is still slow in its acceptance of its GLBTQ brothers and sisters.
Gay Pride began as a movement of defiance in the face of widespread homophobia in American society. Coming out as gay was a political act with serious repercussions in the U.S. during the late 1960s and 1970s. It continues to be an act of courage today for many people who do not live in accepting communities. And, in parts of the world, coming out publicly places gay people in peril of their lives at the hands of repressive governments or Sharia Law.
The annual celebrations of Gay Pride in cities around the world now attract millions of GLBTQ people and their supporters. This annual coming out onto the streets in the light of day can be seen as the root of all current political progress on GLBTQ civil rights and universal human rights around the world.
The advent and decimation of the AIDS epidemic seriously threatened the evolution of gay political life in the U.S. and other nations. However, Gay Pride can be considered a major element in the sense of community which fostered profound grassroots support for victims of the AIDS epidemic, when governments were slow to respond. The mobilization of ACT UP in the U.S. was inspired by gay men, like Larry Kramer in New York, who were involved in the early Gay Pride movement. The NAMES Project, which developed the AIDS Memorial Quilt, was cofounded by Cleve Jones, protege of assassinated gay activist Harvey Milk.
The survival and further development of gay communities through the AIDS epidemic has given current Gay Pride celebrations an aspect of gravitas along with traditional partying, which is emblematic of urban gay life. It's not just a festival. It is a way of making sure GLBTQ people are still alive and participating as an visible segment of the world community.
