June is PRIDE Month
Pride Month was initially inspired by the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, and works to achieve equal justice and opportunity for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning) Americans. The purpose of the month is to recognize the impact that LGBTQ individuals have had on society locally, nationally and internationally. Although Pride Month has been celebrated for more than 50 years, President Bill Clinton officially declared June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 2000. President Barack Obama expanded the observance in 2011 to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.
While we celebrate Pride Month in June, October is LGBT History Month. It was established in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, a high school history teacher in Missouri. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. October was selected to coincide with the anniversary of the first march on Washington for gay and lesbian rights in 1979 and National Coming Out Day which is October 11th.
Pride Month presents an opportunity to strengthen visibility and extend the sense of community. It is also a time to highlight important policy and resource issues the community faces. Each city has established their own theme for the month. The 2026 Philadelphia Pride theme is "Pride is Power.” This theme is organized by Philly Pride 365 and was chosen to honor the intersection of LGBTQIA+ visibility and America's 250th anniversary, highlighting LGBTQIA+ individuals not just as participants in democracy, but as active authors and protectors of it.