In Phoenix, a group of gay and lesbian activists organized the first Pride march through the streets of downtown to the state Capitol building in 1981. This ignited subsequent riots, and protests, and marked the beginning of the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. Though not the first uprising of its kind, Stonewall was a tipping point in the United States. Named for the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ+ club in Greenwich Village, which was the site of a massive rebellion following a raid by New York City police during the early hours of June 28, 1969.
The origin of June's designation as Pride month can be traced back to the Stonewall riots. Happy LGBTQ+ Pride Month! If you’re reading this, we’re hoping you’ll be spending at least part of June in the Greater Phoenix area - in which case, you may need some suggestions on how and where to participate in festivities marking this annual observation.
