June 28 marks LGBTQ+ Pride Day, a date that marks a historic milestone in the fight for the rights of the community.
It all began in the early hours of June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn bar in New York, sparking a series of riots and protests that lasted for days.
What was Stonewall Inn?
Stonewall Inn was a nightclub that opened its doors as a gay club in 1967 in the heart of Manhattan’s bohemian Greenwich Village neighborhood. Despite New York being famous for its strict enforcement of anti-gay laws, it was a dangerous environment for congregants.
The Stonewall riots are considered the starting point of the gay liberation movement in the United States and around the world. From then on, the LGBTQ+ community organized to demand equal rights, an end to discrimination, and respect for their identity.
How is this day celebrated around the world?
The colourful Gay Pride marches take place throughout the day, the most important of which is in Madrid, with more than a million attendees each year. The same applies to Toronto, Canada, San Francisco in the USA and Mexico City, Mexico.
Today, Pride Day is celebrated with marches, parades and events in cities around the world, becoming a colorful festival. Beyond the celebration, this date continues to be a call for tolerance, non-violence and recognition of the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
Bolivia
In Bolivia, the Gay Pride march will be on Saturday, June 29, and individual groups will inform the place and start time of the rally through social media.
The struggle continues to this day, as criminalisation and persecution of sexual diversity still persists in many countries. Even in more progressive countries, hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community remain a harsh reality.
Pride Day is an opportunity to make this struggle visible, demand equality before the law and promote respect for the identity and free expression of each person.
