Celebrating Pride Month in June and beyond

Throughout the month of June we celebrate Pride Month with parades, festivals, music, colorful flags and so much more. While Pride Month is a time to celebrate, the significance goes well beyond the celebrations. It is also a time to acknowledge our history, the fight for equality, and to never forget the leaders who started it all.

The origins of Pride month go back to June 28, 1969 when a group of queer New Yorkers led by Trans women of color, Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, had enough of the harassment and discrimination from local law enforcement and society in general. This was the moment the gay rights and equality movements were born, movements that still continue today.

In the same way that we recognize those who have helped advance the LGBTQ+ movement in decades past, we must also acknowledge those who continue to work today to ensure all citizens continue to receive equal rights and protections. Last week the Common Council had the opportunity to do just that, as we celebrated Pride Month, hung the Progress Pride Flag inside City Hall, and honored three local leaders – Chris Walton, Tanya Atkinson and Kevin Flaherty – for their tireless advocacy, leadership and authenticity. These three individuals represent just a small fraction of the people and organizations working on behalf of Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ community, and it was an honor to shine a light on all they do.

The spirit of Pride is to show our LGBTQ+ community that they are loved, and that we see them as individuals who deserve the same dignity, respect and rights as everyone else. As we close the book on another Pride Month, I look forward to keeping this momentum and energy going well beyond the month of June.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.