The Importance of Pride Month: Supporting The LGBTQ+ Community
Every June, rainbow flags fill streets, social media feeds, and storefronts around the world, but LGBTQ+ Pride Month is more than a colorful celebration. It’s a vital reminder of history, progress, and the ongoing fight for equality. Pride began as a protest and it continues to be a powerful symbol of visibility, resistance, and hope. For many people in the LGBTQ+ community, Pride Month also serves as a vital reminder that they are not alone, especially in a world where mental health disparities and discrimination still take a toll. Understanding why Pride Month matters helps us move beyond performative gestures and toward meaningful, lasting support.
The History of LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Although the gay rights movement can be traced back to the early 1900s, the origin of Pride Month stems from the Stonewall Riots in 1969. As homosexuality was illegal in most states during this time period, it was common for police departments to raid establishments, such as bars and clubs, that were frequented by people in the LGBTQ+ community. On June 28th, 1969 the New York City Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. The police began dragging patrons and employees out of the building, roughing them up and arresting them. People began to resist and fight back, escalating into the Stonewall Riots. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who were trans women of color and activists, led the ongoing riots and protests that lasted for 6 days. The Stonewall Riots brought the LGBTQ+ movement and the fight for equal rights to mainstream media and consciousness.
On the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, people marched through the streets of New York to honor the riots, which became known as the Gay Pride Parade. Other similar marches took place in cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco that June as well. Over time, gay pride parades and celebrations continued to spread. In 2000, president Bill Clinton officially designated June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month to honor and celebrate the Stonewall Riots and LGBTQ+ activism. President Barack Obama would go on to expand the name to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month in 2009.
Why Pride Month Still Matters Today
Today, Pride Month feels ever important and vital. Across the country, there is a growing backlash against LGBTQ+ communities spearheaded by right-wing conservatives. As of the end of May 2025, the American Civil Liberties Union is tracking 588 Anti-LGBTQ+ bills throughout the United States, many of which are singling out the rights, existence, and protections of transgender people. Hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity have increased and LGBT people are over 5 times more likely to be victims of violent crime. These rates are even higher for people with multiple marginalized identities, such as trans people of color.
With current policies aimed at eliminating transgender identities and LGBTQ+ rights, Pride highlights the importance of visibility and advocacy for LGBTQ+ communities. Pride month, events, parades, and visible signs of LGBTQ+ support through June highlight that we are not going anywhere and will continue to fight for our rights. Pride month and celebrations associated with Pride also allow LGBTQ+ people to connect with supportive communities and feel less isolated and alone, which is so important for many LGBTQ+ people who may also be experiencing mental health concerns.
How To Celebrate Pride Month
There are many different ways to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month. June offers so many ways to honor the history of the LGBTQ+ movement, push for further advocacy and equal rights, and celebrate that diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. Here are some suggestions on ways to celebrate Pride Month:
Educate Yourself and Others: As highlighted above, Pride Month is associated with the long history of the LGBTQ+ community and movement. Spend time learning about the history associated with the LGBTQ+ community, especially focusing on history that has been previously erased or whitewashed, and about the current struggles the LGBTQ+ community is facing. Share what you’ve learned with others, or find ways to learn together with the people in your life.
Support LGBTQ+ Businesses: Seek our LGBTQ+ artists, creators, and businesses to support. Support them financially and also find ways to uplift their work to increase their visibility. Check out Everywhere Is Queer, which is working to create a worldwide map of LGBTQ+ businesses to find LGBTQ+ businesses near your or online to support.
Attend Pride Events and Celebrations: Join events, parades, and gatherings that are taking place near you. Pride events can help you to connect with the community, engage in authentic self-expression, and support LGBTQ+ rights.
Show Visible Signs of Support: Hang Pride flags and wear clothes and accessories that show your pride, highlight your identity, or call for LGBTQ+ rights. Visible signs of LGBTQ+ support or identity can help to increase visibility and representation of LGBTQ+ communities and rights, and also signals your support.
Donate: Find organizations that support and fight for LGBTQ+ communities and donate as you are able to support the work that these organizations do year-round, and not just during June.
Volunteer: In addition to financial support, many LGBTQ+ organizations can also use support of volunteers to run their operations. Find ways to donate your time to help support LGBTQ+ organizations.
Celebrate Queer and Trans Joy: Pride was started as a protest. And experiencing, celebrating, and uplifting queer and trans joy is not only a way to be able to keep momentum to be able to continue protesting, but also is an act of resistance in a world that is trying to attack, diminish, and erase LGBTQ+ identities. Read more about ways to Cultivate Queer and Trans Joy here.
Advocate, Protest, Organize: Pride month also highlights the need for continued action, advocacy, protest, and organization. Find ways to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in your workplace and other communities you frequent or are a member of. Call your representatives and pay attention to current anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in your area. Find grassroots organizations to join and support, or show up at protests near you. Advocacy looks different for everyone. Find ways of advocating that work for you and continue it throughout the year, not just in June.
The Link Between LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Mental Health
LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience mental health challenges throughout their life. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are twice as likely to experience mental health concerns than heterosexual adults, and transgender adults are 4x’s more likely than cisgender adults to have mental health concerns. LGBTQ youth are also more likely to experience mental health concerns and suicidality than heterosexual and cisgender youth. Unsupportive environments, discrimination, trauma, rejection, and homelessness are just some of the risk factors that create additional mental health challenges for LGBTQ+ people.
Pride month helps to foster a space for affirmation, community, celebration, and resistance. Fully embracing one’s identity has positive impacts on mental health, and as a space of acceptance and inclusion, LGBTQ+ Pride Month can help foster embracing one's full authentic self. Engaging in resistance against oppression is an important element of self-care for LGBTQ+ people and Pride Month and Pride celebrations help to foster this resistance.
LGBTQ+ Mental Health Therapist in Lexington, Kentucky
Pride Month involves creating safe, affirming environments where LGBTQ+ people can thrive mentally, emotionally, and socially. If you are LGBTQ+ and wanting to find additional ways to improve your mental health and well-being, therapy can be a great space to explore and embrace your full authentic self. I am a queer therapist who works with LGBTQ+ adults virtually throughout Kentucky. Growing up in Kentucky, I understand the challenges of navigating LGBTQ+ identities and experiences within the Bluegrass. If you are looking for an LGBTQ+ therapist to connect with, I’d love to help you on your journey. You can contact me or schedule a free-15 minute consultation so that I can answer any questions you have about working with me.
About the Author:
Dr. Carolyn Meiller is a queer psychologist in Lexington, Kentucky. Throughout her career she has helped LGBTQ+ clients gain deeper understanding of themselves and their experiences, create deeper meaningful connections to others, and embrace their full authentic selves. In her past roles at University Counseling Centers, she has fostered ongoing partnerships with LGBTQ+ student resource groups on campuses to support and advocate for LGBTQ+ students.
