Relationships

An ally’s guide to Pride

As an ally, understanding and participating in Pride can be a transformative journey. This guide will illuminate the history, significance, and ways to engage with Pride, fostering a deeper connection with the LGBTQ+ community and its vibrant celebration of identity.

Being an Ally Starts with Education

True allyship can only be found in tangible action. It’s not just a mindset.

Marriage equality was upheld by the Supreme Court as a constitutional right in 2015
21% of Gen Z now identify as LGBTQ
Real progress has been made, and for allies, that means keeping up with these milestones, understanding their impact, and educating others about what they mean
Even our language has changed
A broader lexicon has helped welcome more people into the community, who previously were unsure where they might fit in

History of Pride

In the 1950s, anxiety about homosexuals reached such a fever pitch that it led to mass firings of gay people in the federal government

With the Civil Rights Movement, things began to change. The focus on civil disobedience, through marches and other demonstrations of solidarity, would come to inform the gay liberation movement and the first Pride parades.
Pride was, therefore, born out of protests. For many in the community, Pride became a necessary release from the harsh everyday reality of queer life in America.

Why Pride still matters today

Visibility is only the beginning. Pride is a party and a protest, but for many it’s also simply a loud declaration of visibility. For many people, that visibility comes at a high price in their own communities.