Copyright: chrisbradshaw / 123RF Stock Photo

President Obama has just designated June 2014 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. He has stressed that we as a nation celebrate the victories that have affirmed freedom and fairness in our society.

President Obama said in an address, “As progress spreads from state to state, as justice is delivered in the courtroom, and as more of our fellow Americans are treated with dignity and respect, our nation becomes not only more accepting, but more equal as well.”

Gay marriage and other perceived rights are a controversial issue today. However, there is significance to the month of June, to the gay community. It dates all the way back to June 28, 1969, and the Stonewall Riots.

The Stonewall

The Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, where riots over treatment by police in 1969, began a new chapter in LGBT history. Photo from wikipedia.org

Riots have inspired the LGBT community to organize for the support of gay rights. Within two years of the riots, gay rights groups had been started in almost every major city in America.

During this time many cities, including New York City, where the Stonewall Inn is located, actually had laws prohibiting people being openly gay. This led to private businesses being raided and shut down by police and other city authorities.

The Stonewall Inn, in Greenwich Village, was the site of a police raid on June 28, 1969, but the patrons took a stand, and a riot broke out. The police called for reinforcements to break up the riot, but the next night a crowd returned, even larger than the night before. Eventually the police broke this crowd up too. However, for days after, demonstrations took place throughout New York City. It is these riots and demonstrations that are being commemorated during the month of June.

President Obama said, “My administration proudly stands alongside all those who fight for LGBT rights,” He has been advancing the cause of same sex marriage and other issues important to the LGBT community, such as strengthening law against violence, bullying and harassment, and discrimination in housing and hospitals.

So, whether people agree with the concerns of this community or not, in just speaking for tolerance, justice, and dignity, we as Americans can all agree. We can start with what we all agree on, and then work from there.

I applaud President Obama, for proclaiming that June 2014 is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I hope everyone in PHS as well as the rest of America will join together to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

By Lizett Garcia