The Art of Love: Memorable Moments in Pride Month History

Discover What 7 Events Helped Shape the Community Into What It Is Today…

Katz Paniagua, Staff Writer • June 11, 2025

Happy Pride Month! | Thumbnail created on Canva.

What exactly is “Pride Month”? Pride Month is a month-long observance to the LGBTQIA+ community, and the celebration of LGBTQ+ pride. Pride Month, alongside Men’s Mental Health Month, Juneteenth, Father’s Day, and others, is meant to shed some light on the several sacrifices and protests that people have made in history all around the globe. The pride movement has spread outside of the USA after President Bill Clinton officially declared that June would be “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month” back in 1999. President Barack Obama would later expand the month to include the whole of the LGBTQ+ community. If you’re interested in the history and powerful moments that have shaped Pride Month into what it is today, keep reading.

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#1 The Stonewall Uprising (1969, New York City, USA)

The Stonewall uprising, also known as the Stonewall rebellion, Stonewall revolution, or Stonewall, was a riot that was against a police raid that took place on June 28, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn – a gay bar and recreational tavern located at 53 Christopher Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It was a protest against ongoing police harassment and discrimination toward LGBTQ+ people. The riots began after the police were forcefully handling innocent bystanders and customers inside of the Mafia-run tavern, which led to a crowd of more than 150+ individuals fighting against the injustice. Coins, beer cans, and slurs were thrown after someone in the crowd alleged that the raid happened because “they didn’t pay off the cops”, to which someone else responded with “Let’s pay them off!” Marsha P. Johnson, an American gay liberation activist and drag queen, was also a part of the riots and became one of the most prominent figures of the gay rights movements during the 1960s-70s. She fought and advocated for homeless LGBTQ+ youth, those affected by H.I.V. and AIDS, and gay and transgender rights.

#2 First Christopher Street Liberation Day March (1970, USA)

As a result of the Stonewall uprising, the street became a famous center for the world’s gay rights movement in the later 1970s, and serves as an international symbol of gay pride to this day. It is also a designated U.S. National Historic Landmark and National Monument.

#3 The Castro Sweep Protest (1989, San Francisco, USA)

The Castro Sweep was another infamous police riot that happened in the Castro District of San Francisco on the evening of October 6, 1989. Earlier that day, members of the group ACT UP marched from the Federal Building to the Castro District to protest how the U.S. government was handling the AIDS crisis at the time. During the march, police arrested several individuals. When the march ended at the corner of Castro and Market Street, more protesters and people watching joined in and held sit-ins and die-ins, a form of protest where you pretend you are lying dead or unwell. Around 8 p.m., the police said the gathering was illegal and began clearing the streets. By 10 p.m., the police had left, and the protesters eventually went home. A total of 53 individuals were arrested.

#4 The Netherlands Becomes First Country to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage (2001)

Same-sex marriage was legalized on April 1, 2001, in the Netherlands, making it the first country in the world to do so. This marked one of the most important events in Pride history.

#5 Trans Day of Action Begins (2005, New York City, USA)

Trans Day of Action (TDOA) began in 2005 and happens annually around late June in New York City. It is organized by a group called Trans Justice which is part of the Audre Lorde Project. The event brings attention to the unfair treatment and violence that many Trans and Gender Non-Conforming people face. At the same time, it celebrates their strength, community, and history. TDOA also supports and advocates for fairness and freedom for all people who are treated unfairly around the world.

#6 Obergefell v. Hodges Ruling Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage Nationwide (2015, USA)

On Friday, June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. In the case of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Court ruled that states cannot refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and must recognize same-sex marriages performed in all 50 states. The majority said that banning same-sex marriage is unfair and goes against the rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment.

#7 India Decriminalizes Homosexuality (2018)

On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of India all agreed that Section 377, a law that made homosexuality illegal, was unfair and went against people’s human rights. This decision officially made homosexuality legal in India and reversed an earlier ruling from 2013. The British created Section 377, a law that made homosexual activity a crime, and it stayed in place for more than 70 years after India’s independence. This was a big step towards the LGBTQ+ community in India, and was a historic victory for the community around the globe.

Bonus! The Introduction of the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag (2021)

Valentino Vecchietti, the original designer of the Intersex Inclusive Progress Pride Flag, incorporated a yellow triangle with a purple circle – elements also found in the Intersex Flag designed by Morgan Carpenter. It was later adopted as the new official Pride Flag after going viral online. The Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag is meant to represent the 1979 Pride Flag, the Transgender Pride Flag, the Philadelphia Pride Flag, and the Intersex Pride Flag – all in one. Exactly 100 of the flags were hanging in Regent Street in central London to mark 50 years of Pride in the UK. Fun fact: F1 driver Lewis Hamilton was wearing Valentino’s flag on his helmet at the Qatar and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix back in Novemeber 21, 2021 as a way to speak against human rights violations.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Which historic event stood out to you the most? Do you think the 2021 Intersex-Inclusive Pride Flag is a good representation of the LGBTQ+ community today? What other important figures in LGBTQ+ history or events come to mind for you? Share your thoughts by clicking the comment button on your right-hand side.

Happy Pride month, everyone! Tune in for more ‘The Art of Love‘ articles!