Why Do We Need Pride?

By Alex Phillips

Thumbnail Photo by Jakayla Toney on Unsplash

“Is Pride really important? I mean, they can get married and adopt kids now, what more do they need?” If you are queer, maybe you have heard this question or something similar online or from your homophobic relative. Ignorance infests our society, and in the case of the LGBTQ+ community, it often comes from a lack of knowledge. Since LGBTQ+ history is overlooked in academics, schools, and mainstream media, there are many people who do not “get” the community and why it’s important. With a bit of a look into the history of the community and the politics of today, we can easily find the answer to our question. 

A Brief History of Pride

It begins in New York City, 1969. Well, queer history began as soon as humankind evolved, but today we are going to start in 1969. Laws had been in place dictating clothing worn by men and women, and police officers took advantage of this law to target the queer community by raiding bars and other queer establishments. Stonewall Inn, a dive bar, was a victim of a raid on June 28th, 1969. What was different about this raid, however, was that the patrons fought back. Notable queer activists such as Silvia Rivera, Stormé DeLarverie, and Marsha P. Johnson took part in the riot that ensued. This night became significant in queer history as the night that the community finally stood up for itself, and its anniversary became the date of the first pride march a year later. 

The history of pride marches doesn’t end here. In the 1980s there was another historical event for the LGBTQ+ community: the AIDs crisis. This disease wiped out a third of the community within a decade. The massacre could have been prevented had President Reagan’s government taken the initiative and provided funding and support for the community. During this time, parades became less of a celebration and more of a solemn march as numbers halved and parades were led by gay men in wheelchairs who would not make it to the end of the year. These marches became protests and movements to push for AIDs research and treatment. However, the queer community received no external support and was left to fend for itself, and it was the first time that the queer community truly came together. The AIDs crisis was a tragedy for the LGBTQ+ community, and pride was a way for them to hold onto themselves and unite throughout the mourning. Their desire to help each other and unite has never been overshadowed—in fact, it has only strengthened.

Pride Today

So, why do we still need pride today if all of these events were so long ago? The easy answer is, the fight for LGBTQ+ rights isn’t over yet. Right now, the community is once again under attack. In America, over fifty anti-trans bills have passed in 2023, and even more, are being introduced. Several states are introducing laws regarding one’s sex in sports, what a teacher may talk about in class, limitations on drag shows, and more. These, and so many more, are incredibly harmful to the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the fact that being gay is, for the most part, politically acceptable in the Western world, the transgender community is under attack. Right-wing extremists have targeted the trans community as a way to divert attention away from real issues such as climate change, housing crises, and healthcare. They would sooner have you believe that a trans kid on a school soccer team is a bigger threat than capitalism destroying the planet, and they are using the same language now that they used in the 1980s against gay people: “It is about protecting kids.”

They claim to be “protecting kids” even though 82% of trans people have considered suicide and 40% have attempted due to a lack of support.

They claim to be “protecting kids,” but why do kids need protection from this? 

They claim to be “protecting kids” despite the fact that being transgender is not harmful to anyone.

Photo by Thiago Rocha on Unsplash

While it’s easy to look at this news from Canada and feel a sense of security in the fact that this is not our country, that does not mean that we are safe. In our own province of Nova Scotia, we see how this movement in America has been affecting the rest of the world. In Kentville and Moncton there have been protests at drag shows, there are still anti-pride protests, and any queer person can tell you about the discrimination that they have experienced in their own communities. 

As a queer transgender man, watching as society attacks my very existence is terrifying, and I am sure that most trans individuals agree with me. Pride is important not just because it is a celebration of who we are and how far we’ve come, it is important because it is a protest. It’s a protest against a society that would rather see us dead than happy. By showing up, being proud of who you are, and not backing down, we establish that we are here and we are not going anywhere. Today’s generation has more openly queer people than ever because of how open and accepting society has become toward the LGBTQ+ community. As a result, the right-wing extremists are afraid and are lashing out. They see the LGBTQ+ community as a threat to their power and to the traditional values that they attempt to uphold. We still need pride because they still do not accept who we are.

It is important that we continue speaking up and educating those who will listen. Show up to pride marches, show your support to the community, and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. If you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, remember that you are loved, you have a whole community behind you, and despite what you may hear, there is nothing wrong with you. Keep being yourself, and happy Pride Month.