While members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their supporters have celebrated several important legal victories in recent years (such as the right to marry), there is still work to be done to create true equality. In the meantime, the Grand Forks estate planning attorneys at German Law offer ideas on how you can celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in North Dakota this June.
History of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
LGBTQIA+ History Month is celebrated every October while LGBTQIA+ Pride Month takes place each June across the world. LGBTQIA+ Pride Month honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. In fact, the first Pride march in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Initially, the last Sunday in June was celebrated as “Gay Pride Day,” but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the “day” soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQIA+ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the local, national, and international impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history.
In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (October 11), as well as the first “March on Washington” in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ community during LGBT History Month.
How to Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in North Dakota
Whether you simply want to be subtly supportive or jump into the middle of the celebration, there are an endless number of ways to get involved in LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in North Dakota.
Dakota Outright has a full weekend of activities planned for June 16-18th in Bismarck, North Dakota, including live music, art shows, activities, and food vendors. The University of North Dakota also has activities planned throughout the month of June to celebrate Pride Month and if you live near Grand Forks, North Dakota, you can connect with Grand Forks Pride to find our more about Pride Month activities.
Other ways to get involved in LGBTQIA+ Pride month include:
- Learn more about the history of the LGBTQIA+ community and the struggles they have faced.
- Surround yourself with Pride gear by decorating your home with Pride-themed décor. Proudly hang a rainbow flag in your front yard and windows.
- Attend a Pride parade or a local event scheduled during Pride Month.
- Make a financial contribution to a local, state, or national organization that supports the LGBTQIA+ community. Use Charity Navigator to find a reputable charity.
- While you may do this all year long, make a point of advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights during the month of June.
Contact a Grand Forks Estate Planning Attorney
Please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you have additional questions about LGBTQIA+ estate planning in North Dakota, contact a Grand Forks estate planning attorney at German Law by calling 701-738-0060 to schedule an appointment.
John grew up on a small livestock farm in west central Minnesota. He now lives in Grand Forks with his wife Maggie and their two daughters. In his free time John enjoys reading, taking his family to North Dakota and Minnesota state parks and rooting for all UND and Minnesota professional sports.
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