It’s here, y’all! June is Pride Month, whose history stretches back to the 1970s. The first Pride March was held on June 28, 1970, organized by Brenda Howard, to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, where patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back against police harassment. Since then, Pride has grown to a month-long celebration first federally recognized by President Bill Clinton in 1999, highlighting community joy and togetherness across the nation.
To learn more about the origins of Pride Month, take a look at the resources below:
Just because Pride Month encompasses all of June doesn’t mean that there aren’t specific awareness days throughout the month! The first is LGBTQ Families Day, celebrated on the first Monday in June. LGBTQ Families Day was founded by website Mombian in 2006 and serves as an annual opportunity to focus on the unique needs and gifts of LGBTQ parents and children.
To learn more about resources available to LGBTQ families, check out these resources:
With all the joy Pride Month brings, June holds pain in equal measure. 2026 marks ten years since the tragedy of Pulse nightclub in Orlando. On June 12, 2016, 49 lives were lost in the 2nd largest mass shooting in American history. The location of Pulse, a cherished LGBTQ+ nightclub in the Orlando community, has since undergone a renovation to become a lasting memorial “for all those who just wanted to dance.” Explore the resources below to honor all the lives affected and to help their memory live on.
June also holds landmark Supreme Court decisions expanding the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans. On June 15, 2020, ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, the Supreme Court decided that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees against discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. A court case that you might be more familiar with is Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 ruling that stated that all 50 states are required to perform and recognize the marriages of same-sex couples.
To learn more about these decisions, explore the links below:
Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19, honoring June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned that they were legally free nearly two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. On this day, remember the words of Black Trans queer trailblazer Rv. Dr. Pauli Murray: “As an American I inherit the magnificent tradition of an endless march toward freedom and toward the dignity of all mankind.”
Learn more about Black queer joy at the resources below!
June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, a reminder that testing for HIV is easy, effective, and lifesaving. National HIV Testing Day was first observed on June 27, 1995 – honor the day by knowing your status and sharing resources with the community.
Learn more about HIV resources at the links below:
Lastly, to round out Pride Month, June 30 is Queer Youth of Faith Day. QYF Day was founded in 2020 by Beloved Arise, an organization dedicated to serving LGBTQIA+ youth who participate in religious traditions. The day honors the courage of youth in these spaces and affirms their identity and community.
To learn more, explore the resources below!
There’s just about one week left of Pride Month. How will you celebrate? Here at the LGBTQ Center, we’re uplifting campus and community resources that help everyone experience the joy of Pride Month.
Happy Pride, Tar Heels!
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