Expanding Horizons
LGBTQ+
Why Pride?
History
1965
"Annual Reminders"
Annual Pickets held to raise awareness of the lack of civil rights protections for LGBT people.
1969
"Gay is Good"
Inspired
by
"Black is
Beautiful"
Slogan created to combat social stigma, guilt, shame, and the misconception that homosexuality is a mental illness.
1969
Stonewall Riots
Following a police raid on Stonewall Inn, LGBT people led riots and protests that sparked the modern LGBT rights movement.
1970
Christopher Street
Liberation Day
A day to commemorate the Stonewall Riots. On the first anniversary of Stonewall, this day marked the first Gay Pride parade in the United States.
Celebration and Unity
Pride is a time to be seen and recognized, to be openly and unashamedly queer.
We are an increasingly visible community celebrating our individual and authentic selves together.
The History of LGBTQ+ Pride
Pride is historically a fight for civil rights and equality.
In the 1950s and 60s there were 2 homophile (dated word for gay) organizations hard at work to improve civil, legal, and social rights for LGBTQ+ folks: the Daughters of Bilitis and the Mattachine Society. They coordinated annual picket demonstrations starting in 1965 to inform Americans of the lack of civil rights protections LGBTQ+ people faced.
In a time when homosexuality was considered a mental illness, the slogan "Gay is Good" was created to help combat the stigma, guilt, and shame behind being gay.
The following year, in 1969, the police raided a gay bar in Manhattan called the Stonewall Inn. Brave black transwomen, like Marsha P. Johnson, were among the first to fight back against the police. Riots and protests sparked by this event lasted for several days. This event led to the modern LGBT rights movement and public pride parades and celebrations.
Trans 101
What's the difference between gender and sex?
Gender is the behavioral, cultural, or psychological traits typically associated with the male or female sex.
Sex is the physical characteristics used to distinguish between male and female. This includes hormones, genitalia, and secondary sex characteristics.
Of course, neither gender nor sex are binary. People do not fit neatly into the boxes of male or female. Many people's physical characteristics at birth do not align with being male or female; they may not have certain characteristics or a combination.
Transgender identities can be binary (trans men or trans women) or non-binary. Non-binary identities range from not identifying with any gender (agender) to being all genders (pangender) and everything in between. Some people's genders change (genderfluid) or may be closely tied to their neurology (autigender). No matter what gender you identify with, you are valid.
0.6% of U.S. adults are trans.
That's 1.4 million people!
Transgender
When you identify with a gender different from the sex you were assigned at birth. Your gender identity is your internal sense of gender.
Cisgender
When you identify with the same gender as the sex you were assigned at birth.
Passing
When you are perceived as your gender identity, typically when others
cannot tell that you are trans.
A trans man who presents very masculinely, has a deep voice, or a beard likely
passes as
male.
Misgendering
When others refer to you as the wrong gender. This is harmful, even
if it's an accident.
Referring to a non-binary person who uses they/them/theirs pronouns as she/her or
him/his is
misgendering them (and probably makes them feel awful).
Transitioning
When you take steps to be seen as your gender. This can be done medically, socially, or not at all. Medical transitions include surgeries or hormone therapies. Socially transitioning usually entails a new wardrobe, hairstyle, and name/pronouns.
Dysphoria
Extreme discomfort and distress about your gender. This could lead to a desire to medically transition to change your appearance. It can also be triggered by being misgendered. Not every trans person experiences dysphoria, but many do.
Some Sobering Statistics:
- Nearly 100% of nonbinary people encounter non-inclusive healthcare providers.
- 78% of trans and nonbinary students (k-12) face harassment. 31% of these cases are at the hands of teachers and staff.
- 90% of trans people reported experiencing workplace harassment for being trans.
- Over 25% reported losing their jobs because of their gender.
- 30% of trans people have experienced homelessness.
- 21% of homeless shelters refuse to admit trans women.
- 52% of anti-LGBTQ homicides were against trans and gender nonconforming people.
- 40% of these were against trans women of color.
- 41% of trans people have attempted suicide: a rate 25 times higher than the general population. This is reduced with supportive family members, trans-affirming medical care, social transitioning, and nondiscrimination laws.