Pride month began in 1969 during what is now known as the Stonewall Riots, a series of protests focused on police brutality against LGBTQ+ people. At the time in New York City, “masquerading” as a member of the opposite sex was a crime. Transgender activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera are credited for beginning the riot and launching the movement as we know it today. There was suddenly more attention and media focused on the LGBTQ+ community than ever before.

The first pride marches were held one year later in 1970 in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These marches were more akin to protests than celebration, and to help remind people of LGBTQ+ communities and their struggle for equality. Initially called “Gay Pride Liberation March,” the demonstration took up the entirety of Christopher Street for about 15 blocks to commemorate the Stonewall Riots.

The pride movement spread across the United States in the following years as more LGBTQ+ groups began forming. By 1997, the pride movement had begun growing internationally. June 28th is celebrated globally to commemorate the Stonewall Riots and to unify the community towards progress. Now the pride events are more celebratory, but they are still reminders of the progress made, and of the work that still needs to be done.

The rainbow flag we know today as the pride flag was originally created by the artists Gilbert Baker, Lynn Segerblom, James McNamara, and other activists with the encouragement of the creation by Harvey Milk, an influential leader in the community. The design underwent several revisions until its most recent variant was debuted in 1979. In June 2015, the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan added the rainbow flag symbol to its design collection. Many variations of the pride flag have emerged, such as the progress pride flag and social justice pride flag. Regardless of the variation, the pride flag is a symbol of hope and solidarity.