June is international LGBTIQA+ Pride Month (usually shortened to ‘Pride Month’), dedicated to the celebration and commemoration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual pride.
Pride Month began after the Stonewall riots in America, a series of gay liberation protests in 1969. In the 50+ years since then, Pride Month has come to honour the movement for LGBTIQA+ rights and celebrates LGBTIQA+ cultures.
In Australia, we have a special connection to June as Pride Month. On June 24, 1978, a small group of Sydney gay and lesbian people, called the Gay Solidarity Group, organised one of the first out and proud day of LGBTIQA+ events in Australia. They wanted to promote gay and lesbian culture and protest against the discrimination they experienced in their daily lives. These folks are referred to as ‘the 78ers” and they are considered important elders of the Australian LGBTIQA+ community. The 78ers are honored every year by leading the Mardi Gras parade in Sydney.
In a direct link from this pivotal moment in Australian LGBTIQA+ history, we are proud to have one of the 78ers call Ballarat home.
In modern times, Pride Month is a month to hold events for and about LGBTIQA+ people and their allies, to remember the past, to celebrate the present and to share joy and hope for the future.
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