A Brief History of Pride: Why We Celebrate

Pride isn’t just about rainbow flags and parades.

It’s a protest. A celebration. A reminder. It’s about visibility, resistance, and joy.

And behind every float and flag is a powerful story—one rooted in resilience, loss, courage, and community.

At Freelife Behavioral Health, we believe that understanding the history of Pride Month is essential—not just for honoring those who came before us, but for recognizing the strength it takes to live authentically today. 

Whether you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community or an ally learning how to show up better, the history of Pride Month invites us all to reflect, remember, and recommit to equality.

So let’s go back to where it all began.

What is the origin of Pride Month?

The history of Pride Month began with a riot.

On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn—a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village. Raids like this were common at the time. Homosexuality was criminalized. LGBTQ people were routinely arrested, harassed, and forced into hiding.

But that night, the community fought back.

Led largely by trans women of color—like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera—the resistance outside Stonewall lasted for six days. It was messy, emotional, and brave. And it marked a turning point in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement.

The history of Pride Month officially begins here—with a moment of defiance that sparked a global movement. What started as resistance turned into resilience. And that resilience turned into something beautiful: Pride.

What is the story behind Pride?

The story behind Pride is more than one night—it’s the story of a people who refused to disappear.

After the Stonewall uprising, LGBTQIA+ activists and organizers began mobilizing in more visible, organized ways. The following year, in June 1970, the first official Pride marches were held in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago to commemorate the anniversary of Stonewall.

Thousands of people marched, held signs, and chanted in the streets—demanding justice, visibility, and basic human rights.

These early marches were protests, not celebrations. They were bold and necessary acts of resistance. Over time, as legal victories were won and cultural tides began to shift, Pride evolved into both a remembrance of struggle and a celebration of love and identity.

But the heart of the history of Pride Month has always been about showing up—unapologetically, authentically, and together.

How did LGBTQ History Month start?

While the history of Pride Month focuses on June and the Stonewall uprising, there’s another important piece of the story: LGBTQ History Month.

LGBTQ History Month was created in 1994 by a Missouri high school teacher named Rodney Wilson. He believed LGBTQ history was being erased—and wanted to create a time to teach and remember the contributions of LGBTQ people throughout the centuries.

Unlike Pride Month, which is celebrated in June, LGBTQ History Month is observed in October in the U.S., aligning with National Coming Out Day on October 11th. It serves as a complement to Pride, shining a light on the depth and diversity of LGBTQ stories beyond Stonewall.

Both Pride Month and LGBTQ History Month remind us that queer history is history. That queer voices, artists, leaders, and trailblazers have always been here—fighting, creating, loving, and shaping the world.

Understanding the history of Pride Month means acknowledging that none of our rights were given—they were fought for. And they must be protected, year after year.

Who was the first person to start Pride?

It’s hard to name just one person—because the history of Pride Month is rooted in a collective movement. Still, we can honor key figures who were instrumental in starting it all.

Brenda Howard, a bisexual activist often called the “Mother of Pride,” organized the first Pride march in New York City in 1970, one year after Stonewall. She believed that a single-day commemoration wasn’t enough—and helped shape the idea of an entire Pride Month dedicated to LGBTQ visibility and activism.

Then there’s Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman and drag queen, who was one of the first to resist during the Stonewall uprising. Alongside her friend Sylvia Rivera, she helped form Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), providing housing and support for homeless trans youth.

And we can’t forget Harvey Milk, one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., who championed visibility and rights until his assassination in 1978.

The history of Pride Month is woven from the courage of countless individuals—many of whom were trans, Black, brown, bisexual, disabled, working-class, or otherwise marginalized even within the LGBTQ community.

Their stories are the foundation of Pride. Their legacies continue in every flag raised, every law changed, and every person who finds the courage to live out loud.

Final Thoughts: Why We Still Celebrate

Pride isn’t just a party. It’s a protest.

It’s a celebration. It’s a way of saying: We’re still here.

The history of Pride Month teaches us that joy and resistance are not opposites—they go hand in hand. We celebrate not because the work is done, but because we’ve come so far. We honor the past by making room for the future.

At Freelife Behavioral Health, we support LGBTQIA+ individuals navigating mental health challenges, identity journeys, and the everyday realities of being queer in a complicated world. And we believe that knowing your history is part of knowing your power.

This Pride, take a moment to learn the names. To read the stories. To reflect on the movements. And to remember that you, too, are part of this legacy.

You don’t have to be fearless to belong here. You just have to be yourself.

And that’s worth celebrating.