Diversity, more than 8 million adults in the US are Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual. Comprising 3.5% of the adult population. 9 Million Americans – Roughly the population of New Jersey identify as LGBT!
LGBT Pride Month, the month of June in the USA was chosen for LGBT Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall Riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969!
The Stonewall Riots were a series of violent demonstrations by members of the gay community against a police raid that took place in June. 28th, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn. In the neighborhood of New York City, this event leading to the modern fight for Gay and Lesbian rights in the United States.
The 1st Flag (The Rainbow Flag), as a Gay Pride Symbol, made its debut at the San Francisco Pride Parade in 1978. Harvey Milk asked his good friend Gilbert Baker to design a unifying symbol for the Gay community and the Rainbow flag was the result.
Harvey Milk was an American Politician who became the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California!
Symbolic Colors; the original LGBT – Flag was hand – dyed and consisted of eight symbolic colors:
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Hot Pink: Sexuality
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Red: Life
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Orange: Healing
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Yellow: Sunlight
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Green: Nature
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Turquoise: Magic/Art
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Blue: Serenity/Harmony
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Purple: Spirit
Dropping Stripes, the original Rainbow flag had eight colors. Later, Hot Pink and Turquoise were taken out later due to production constraints and the need for design symmetry.
LAMBDA: The Greek LAMBDA symbol was another commonly used Gay Rights symbol prior to the Rainbow flag, and was the sign of the Gay Activist Alliance! LAMBDA signify Liberation, Unity, and Synergy, of the Iconic Scales of Justice!
Giant Flag: In 1994, Gilbert Baker led the creation of a mile – long Rainbow flag, to honor the 25th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized it as the world’s largest flag!
The 1st Gay Parade, Parades were held the weekend of June 27th and 28th of 1970 in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. They were organized to commemorate the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
Oldest LGBT Organization, of its surviving, is the Netherland’s Center for Culture and Leisure (COC), which was founded in 1946 and used a cover name to mask its taboo purpose!
The Rise of ‘Pride’: Early marches commonly used ‘Gay Liberation’ and ‘Freedom,’ in their names. Then, with cultural changes and decreased militancy in the 1980’s and 1990’s these words became less frequent, and the term ‘Gay Pride,’ became commonly used.
The World’s Largest Parade: With an estimated 3.5 million attendees in 2011, Sao Paulo, Brazil hosts the World’s Largest Pride Parade!
Euro pride: Europe has a PAN – European International Pride Event called, Appropriately, Euro pride!
Floats on a River, Amsterdam is the only city who’s Pride Celebration literally floats on a river! The parade takes place on 100 decorated boats that sail through the city on the Prinsengracht River!
The Longest Gay Pride Celebration lasts three to four weeks in Sydney, Australia each February ending with Mardi Gras!