Streets are bare, bars are empty, the world has halted but don’t let that be the reason we stop being proud.

Today marks the beginning of pride month around the world. Sadly, this month won’t be as joyous as it usually is but we cannot allow that to stop us from celebrating and remembering all the people who have helped the LGBTQ+ Community be where it is today. This virus also can’t be an excuse to forget everyone who still suffers in this world from being queer. The hate doesn’t stop because our lives have been interrupted.

I’ve decided to use this post as a reminder that there is still progress to be made and that as a community we should not be divided and we should unite to support all members. But I will start with a reminder of the reasons of why we are where we are today.

In the summer of 1969 police raided the Stonewall Inn, at this time these raids were usual but something was different that night which sparked violence. That raid started a riot which would change LGBT history forever. It is important to note that two of the most influential people throughout this movement were trans women of colour – Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. These women and many other people risked their lives so they could live in peace – this can even be compared to the current riots in America which are a result of mass injustice and suppression of black people. The uprising in 1969 came after decades of suppression of gay people and after assessing all their options this was their last resort. However, the riots weren’t a one-off, they started a movement which still stands today. The Stonewall Riots didn’t fix hate against the LGBT community but it was a spark which would turn into change.

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For decades after LGBTQ+ people were still neglected and suppressed by governments and society. Even throughout the AIDs Epidemic which saw hundreds of thousands of gay men in the US and around the world die the government ignored it and many labelled it as the ‘gay cancer’ and claimed that it was there to kill off gay men. Organisations like the very prominent ACT UP staged peaceful protests in solidarity with their friends who were suffering from this terrible disease. It is also said the very vocal support of Pop Queen Madonna was a huge help in this fight with the release of the song ‘Vogue’, which was a popular dance from the underground gay ball scene. This started to bring gay culture into the mainstream which made the world see the community in a whole new light.

Coming out of the AIDS crisis gay people continue to be affected. In the UK a gay man is unable to give blood unless they haven’t had sexual relations in three months, which leaves many gay men to feel like they can’t help especially during the current pandemic as it has been stated that gay men will be excluded from the plasma trials in the fight to cure the virus. Education surrounding this topic is still very limited within schools and a lot of same-sex relations are not even being discussed, however, in 2018 the Scottish government became the first country in the world to make LGBT education necessary in all schools as part of the curriculum.

But as the years went on and the new millennium came and went progress for queer people in the UK began to speed up. In 2004 the Gender Recognition Act was passed which allowed for Transgender people to change their sex on their birth certificate, however, it is a very difficult process but the Scottish Government have been working to reform the act to make it easier for transgender people to do this. The Equality Act 2010 was passed which covered a lot to help LGBT people including making it illegal to discriminate, harass, and victimise a person because of their sexual orientation or identity. The act also covered a multitude of different things to protect other minority groups. Then in 2014, the Scottish Government legalised same-sex marriage. The Scottish Government also passed an Act in 2018 which issued a pardon to men, living and dead, convicted of having consensual sex with other men before it was decriminalised, something which changed the lives of many men.

Sadly, the same cannot be said for a lot of countries around the world. Currently, there are still 77 countries where it is a crime to be a homosexual. In many, this ‘crime’ is punishable by death. Poland has recently hit headlines across the world when they implemented “LGBT-free zones” in a few parts of the country. Following this videos of men burning Pride Flags have circulated the internet. Throughout Europe, there are still many unsafe countries for LGBT people even if it is legal. This just proves that there is still a long way to go for the community even if it is not in our country we should still stand united to end the inequality of queer people everywhere.

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In the UK things could still be better. Trans rights are still being dismissed by the UK Government and many trans people are facing increased hate crime. There is no LGBT without the ’T’ so we need to stand up for one another just as trans people stood up for gay people during the Stonewall Riots.

Together we can fight injustice for everyone. This pride month might be less of a celebration but NEVER forget there is still progress to be made. Remember who fought for us. And to those who are stuck at home in unsafe and homophobic environments – we are with you, we haven’t forgotten about you, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel soon.

Stay Safe. Stay Proud. Happy Pride Month!