Pride Month History, Advocacy and Celebrations
Annually in June, the world’s LGBTQIA+ communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves during Pride Month.
Pride gatherings are rooted in the arduous history of minority groups who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who they are.
The original organizers chose this month to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement. Most Pride events take place each year in June, although some cities hold their celebrations at other times of the year.
(Information courtesy of CNN)
Learn more from the resources below.
LGBTQIA+ History, Advocacy, News
- Presidential Proclamation on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month 2023
- What the 2020 census can — and can’t — tell us about LGBTQ+ people
- LGBTQIA+ Statistics (U.S. Census Bureau)
- 28+ Pride Month Work Ideas for 2023
- Out LGBTQ Celebrities: Janelle Monae, Jerrod Carmichael, Cody Alan, Kal Penn and more
- What is The Equality Act?
- The History of Queer Stigma – And How it Affects the Community’s Mental Health Today
- LGBTQ Rights, Milestones, Fast Facts
- 20 LGBTQ People Who Changed the World
- Human Rights Campaign
- Diversity Reboot 2023 PRIDE: Championing LGBTQIA+ Leaders and Allies
- Druid City Pride (Tuscaloosa)
LGBTQIA+ Terminology
Stonewall
Celebrations
- Druid City Pride events
- Virtual Pride Programming
- International LGBTQ+/Gay Pride Calendar
- 25 Virtual Pride Month Ideas to Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Rights
- Online Pride Events
UA Safe Zone Programming June 2023
LGBTQ+ Craft Hour
Tuesday, June 6, 13, 20 and 27 | noon-1 p.m. | Safe Zone Student Lounge
(Social Enrichment)
*Open to UA students
The Safe Zone Resource Center will continue to offer its summer crafting opportunity on Tuesdays in June. This crafting hour will provide a space for building community and sharing stories while learning about the services and mission of the SZRC as well as the LGBTQIA+ community at UA. Craft supplies will be provided for all attendees. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Pride Film Series: ‘Moonlight’
Friday, June 2 | 3-5 p.m. | Safe Zone Student Lounge
(Educational Engagement/Cultural Exploration)
*Open to UA students, faculty and staff
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host a movie screening of “Moonlight” for its weekly LGBTQIA+ Pride Month movie series. “Moonlight” is a coming-of-age drama that follows the story of a young man as he faces the difficulties that come with exploring his sexuality and identity. Guests will learn about the intersectional experiences of Black gay men. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Pride Film Series: ‘Before Stonewall’
Friday, June 9 | 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Safe Zone Student Lounge
(Educational Engagement/Cultural Exploration)
*Open to UA students, faculty, and staff
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host a movie screening of Before Stonewall for the weekly LGBTQIA+ Pride Month movie series. “Before Stonewall” is a documentary that explores LGBTQIA+ life prior to the 1969 Stonewall riots and the beginnings of the modern gay rights movement. Guests will learn about the gay rights community in the early 20th century. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu
Ally Training Program
Monday, June 12 | 2 p.m.-4 p.m. | Zoom
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
*Open to all UA students, faculty, staff and UA System
The UA Safe Zone Ally Training Program provides a visible network of allies for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) individuals. Safe Zone Allies distribute information regarding sexuality, gender identity, campus and community resources, and methods for reporting harassment and/or discrimination. The Safe Zone Ally Training Program is a two-hour training session that allows participants to develop a working knowledge of appropriate and respectful LGBTQIA+ terminology; recognize the impact that campus climate has on individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+; and identify areas of personal growth as a member of the UA community. Following the training program, participants are invited to sign-up to serve as UA Safe Zone Allies. Registration required. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at 205-348-7297 or safezone@ua.edu.
The History of the Tuscaloosa Lesbian Coalition Exhibit
Thursday, June 16-30 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily | Intercultural Diversity Center, 2100 Student Center
(Cultural Exploration/Educational Engagement)
*Open to community, UA students, faculty, staff, and UA System
In collaboration with The University of Alabama’s Queer History Project, Safe Zone Resource Center will host an exhibit in the Intercultural Diversity Center highlighting the history of the Tuscaloosa Lesbian Coalition. Participants can learn about the history and advocacy of the Tuscaloosa Lesbian Coalition, as well as LGBTQIA+ culture in Tuscaloosa’s past. This exhibit will feature maps, photography, and textiles to illustrate the lives and efforts of the Coalition. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Pride Film Series: ‘After Stonewall’
Friday, June 16 | 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Safe Zone Student Lounge
(Educational Engagement/Cultural Exploration)
*Open to UA students, faculty, and staff
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host a movie screening of “After Stonewall” for its weekly LGBTQIA+ Pride Month movie series. “After Stonewall” is a documentary LGBTQIA+ activism after the Stonewall Riots in 1969. Guests will learn about the gay rights movement in the last half of the 20th century. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.
Pride Film Series: ‘United in Anger: A History of ACT UP’
Friday, June 23 | 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Safe Zone Student Lounge
(Educational Engagement/Cultural Exploration)
*Open to UA students, faculty, and staff
The Safe Zone Resource Center will host a movie screening of “United in Anger: A History of ACT UP” for the weekly LGBTQIA+ Pride Month movie series. This documentary follows the AIDS activist movement from the perspective of the people fighting the epidemic utilizing oral histories of members of the ACT UP movement. Guests will learn about the ACT UP movement and its impact on the LGBTQIA+ community. For more information, contact the Safe Zone Resource Center at safezone@ua.edu.