Provided by Prince William County
The Board of County Supervisors has passed a resolution proclaiming June 2022 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, And More (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month.
On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular Greenwich Village bar, for the second time in a week — a common occurrence in an era when nearly all aspects of LGBTQ life were criminalized. That night, however, the crowd refused to disperse, and patrons clashed with police as the confrontation swelled to include hundreds of demonstrators. These riots continued for a number of days as protestors called for the end of persecution and for the creation of places where they could gather and be open about their sexuality and gender identity without fear of reprisal.
Though preempted by other uprisings, like the Black Cat and Compton’s Cafeteria Riots on the West Coast in the years prior, the Stonewall Riots have been widely regarded as the beginning of the Gay Liberation Movement and set the stage for what we would consider Pride Month, held in June, in remembrance of the Stonewall raid and the response that followed.
The month-long celebration, which includes parades, community events, educational sessions, workshops, and other events, offers the opportunity to promote equal rights, dignity and self-affirmation and to celebrate the influence members of the community have had around the world and in local communities like ours. The month also serves to raise public awareness of the history of the LGBTQIA+ community, including their legal persecution and their struggle for Equal Rights, as well as the challenges the LGBTQIA+ community continues to face, like housing, medical, and employment disparities.
The community is encouraged to PRIDE this year and honor the diversity and resiliency of the LGBTQIA+ community throughout June and beyond.
"Kama ilivyoelezwa na Bodi ya Wasimamizi wa Kaunti, Juni 2022 ni ""Mwezi wa Kiburi cha Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersexual, Intersex, na Zaidi"" (LGBTQIA+)." Mnamo Juni 28, 1969, polisi waliingia katika Stonewall Inn, baa maarufu ya Greenwich Village, kwa mara ya pili katika wiki moja - tukio la kawaida katika enzi ambapo karibu nyanja zote za maisha ya LGBTQ zilikuwa zimehukumiwa. Hata hivyo, usiku huo, umati huo ulikataa kutenganishwa, na wapinzani waligombana na polisi wakati mapigano yalipokuwa yakiongezeka na kujumuisha mamia ya waandamanaji. Maandamano hayo yaliendelea kwa siku kadhaa huku waandamanaji wakitaka kukomeshwa kwa mateso na kuundwa kwa maeneo ambapo wanaweza kukusanyika na kuwa wazi kuhusu jinsia yao bila kuogopa kulipiza kisasi. Ingawa ilichukuliwa na mapinduzi mengine, kama vile Black Cat na Compton's Cafeteria Riots katika Pwani ya Magharibi katika miaka ya awali, Stonewall Riots imekuwa kwa ujumla kuchukuliwa kama mwanzo wa Gay Liberation Movement na kuweka hatua kwa nini sisi angependa kuzingatia Pride mwezi, uliofanyika Juni, katika kumbukumbu ya Stonewall shambulio na majibu ambayo ilifuata. Sherehe hiyo ya mwezi mmoja, ambayo inajumuisha maandamano, matukio ya jamii, vikao vya elimu, warsha, na matukio mengine, inatoa fursa ya kukuza haki sawa, heshima na kujitetea na kusherehekea ushawishi wa wanachama wa jamii duniani kote na katika jamii za mitaa kama yetu. Mwezi huu pia hutumika kuongeza ufahamu wa umma wa historia ya jamii ya LGBTQIA +, pamoja na mateso yao ya kisheria na mapambano yao kwa Haki sawa, na changamoto ambazo jamii ya LGBTQIA + inaendelea kukabili, kama vile makazi, matibabu, na tofauti za ajira. "Watu wanaohusika wanahimizwa ""kujivunia"" mwaka huu na kuheshimu utofauti na uvumilivu wa jamii ya LGBTQIA+ katika mwezi Juni na zaidi."