June has been the designated LGBTQ+ Pride Month for about 50 years now in commemoration of one of the most notable protests for the LGBTQ+ community, the Stonewall riots in 1969, which was in response to a police raid of gay and lesbian bars in the Greenwich Village of Manhattan, New York. For years there have been dozens of protests all over the world in order to stand for the LGBTQ+ community and the prejudice continues to prevail. While coronavirus still looms over our heads, many are questioning whether Pride Month celebrations and parades are safe enough to attend this summer. If this is you, no need to be bummed out because there are plenty of ways to celebrate others’ identities and our own in the comfort of our own home. Read on to find out ways you can be proactive during Pride Month and still be a part of all the festivities.
This may seem silly, but is a great way to get into the Pride Month spirit and give you a DIY craft to do while spending your time in quarantine. You will first want to wash all of your shirts to wash out any chemicals that were already in them and any that might be dye repellant. Next, set down a tarp or sheet of plastic so to not dye anything you might not want to be stained. The next step is to tie your shirts into different ways with rubber bands to create a bunch of different patterns when the shirts are completed. You can create a “spiral,” “crumple,” or “bullseye” design with your shirts. Put on rubber gloves and begin to dye your shirts. After you have added all the dye, let the shirts sit for about 20 minutes, run under warm water while untying and then under cool water and there you go!
Just like the Black Lives Matter Movement, it is essential to educate ourselves and those around us about things that we may be uncomfortable with, may not understand or be unfamiliar with. Read books, watch films or documentaries or listen to podcasts to learn about the history of the LGBTQ+ community and the movement itself. Maybe you have a friend or family member that is a part of this community and you can learn from them about their experience or struggles coming to terms with their identity. Similarly, if you happen to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community, share your own experiences with your peers so they can learn more about you and your story and allow them to ask any questions they might have.
What better way to celebrate this happy month with a rainbow themed party in honor of Pride than a rainbow themed party. Buy a piñata for a fun backyard party, different colored streamers, a colorful cake and make DIY crafts like the tie dye shirts mentioned above or any other pride themed activities you can think of. This is really up to whoever is throwing the party how they want to celebrate Pride and express what the month means to them.
A great way to celebrate and experience the culture of the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month is to watch a movie or short film that celebrates it. Some classic LGBTQ+ movies include Paris is Burning, The Birdcage, Beautiful Thing, and All About My Mother, among others.
There are many virtual pride events that will be happening all month long for those stuck at home that still want to get into the spirit! For example, there will be a virtual pride celebration on June 28th, in commemoration of the annual Pride Parade in New York City with headliners, Dan Levy and Janelle Monáe. Pride Organizations from around the country will also come together on June 27th for “Virtual Pride 2020,” that will be a 24-hour livestream of virtual performances of all kinds.
A fun and yummy way to celebrate Pride Month is baking, which brings everyone together. This is your opportunity to experiment with color to represent the Pride Flag. Use food such as fruit pebbles, multicolored frosting and colored pancake mix to make Pride-themed meals all day long.
If you are totally bummed out about not being able to attend a Pride parade, watch some parades from years past on YouTube to get you in the spirit. There are hundreds of Pride parades going on around the world every year that you can look back on and be inspired by. Check out the parades or celebrations that have happened in Europe or anywhere overseas to see how they celebrate Pride differently. It really is beautiful to see the whole world come together and share a bond so special. It is a great reminder that no matter where you come from, we are all human.
Even if you may not be a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you can still show your support to some of your friends or family who might be and have not come out yet or just to show your support for the community overall. Consider putting up a DIY sign in your front lawn made out of cardboard or hang the flag on your porch just to show your alliance.
A great way to show your support to the LGBTQ+ community is to create clothing or accessories to be donated to organizations that support the community. Make DIY buttons at home that have the Pride flag on them or an inspirational quote. You can also create t-shirts or water bottles with the same graphics, promote your art on your social media or to your friends and vow to donate to the proceeds to organizations supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
If you are not up to creating your own Pride merchandise and simply just want to help out the community, there are hundreds of organizations to donate to to help the cause. Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the Black AIDS Institution and the National Center for Transgender Equality are some examples that are alway accepting donations.
Whether we are at a thousand-person Pride parade or in the comfort of our own homes, there are always ways to show your support to the LGBTQ+ community and rally for equality. Host a summer Pride-themed party with DIY rainbow crafts and treats, watch LGBTQ+ movies, donate to organizations. Things may not be the same this year with the large crowds but this opens up the opportunity for the celebrations to be more personal and even bigger and better when we can all come together and resume the parades next year!
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