PRIDE

PRIDE
Name	PRIDE
Founded	20th century
Type	Social movement / cultural movement
Region	Global
Key people	Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Harvey Milk, Bayard Rustin, Alan Turing, Audre Lorde

PRIDE PRIDE is a global social and cultural movement associated with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and allied communities, and with demonstrations, commemorations, and rights campaigns that trace roots to mid-20th-century activism. It encompasses annual marches, festivals, political lobbying, artistic expression, and community organizing that engage institutions such as Stonewall Inn, Greenwich Village, Christopher Street Liberation Day, Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, ACT UP, Human Rights Campaign, and ILGA. The movement links historical events, legal struggles, and cultural production across cities like New York City, San Francisco, London, Berlin, Toronto, and Sydney.

Etymology and Definitions

The term "pride" gained prominence after the Stonewall riots and through adoption by organizers of Christopher Street Liberation Day and other commemorations; it rebranded earlier identity politics exemplified in movements led by Mattachine Society founders and Daughters of Bilitis. Activists such as Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Bayard Rustin, Frank Kameny, and Vito Russo emphasized dignity echoed in slogans used by groups including Gay Liberation Front, Gay Activists Alliance, and Lesbian Avengers. Academic frameworks from scholars like Judith Butler, Michel Foucault, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, and Queer Theory circles helped codify definitions used by NGOs such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Historical Origins and Movements

Origins are commonly traced to the Stonewall riots of 1969 in New York City and the subsequent formation of organizations including Gay Liberation Front and Gay Activists Alliance; parallel threads appear in postwar movements tied to figures like Alan Turing in Great Britain and post-Stonewall organizing in San Francisco with leaders like Harvey Milk. Transnational links formed via conferences such as World Pride and advocacy by ILGA and activists from ACT UP during the AIDS crisis intersected with labor and civil rights actors like Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners and allies associated with Stonewall Democratic Club. Regional movements adapted to local contexts in places including Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv, Cape Town, Tokyo, and Mumbai influenced by national legal decisions like rulings from European Court of Human Rights and constitutional jurisprudence in United States and Canada.

Pride Events and Celebrations

Annual pride marches and festivals evolved from early commemorations such as Christopher Street Liberation Day into large-scale events like New York City Pride, São Paulo Gay Pride Parade, Madrid Orgullo, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Toronto Pride, and WorldPride. Municipalities including London Borough of Lambeth and cultural institutions such as Museum of Modern Art and Tate Modern have hosted exhibitions, while corporations and political figures including Barack Obama, Margaret Thatcher, Justin Trudeau, and Boris Johnson have appeared in official capacities at parades and events. Pride weeks integrate performances featuring artists like Madonna, Lady Gaga, Freddie Mercury (legacy), and Cher, and partnerships with nonprofits such as The Trevor Project and Sigma Lambda Beta.

Symbols, Flags, and Iconography

Iconography draws on flags and symbols originated or popularized by creators and movements including Gilbert Baker’s rainbow flag, the pink triangle reclaimed from Nazi concentration camps and Holocaust Memorials, and variations such as the intersex flag by Organisation Intersex International and the bisexual flag by Michael Page. Other emblems include motifs used by Act Up (silence=death logo), the lambda adopted by Gay Activists Alliance, and community-specific banners developed by activists in locales like San Francisco and Berlin. Museums and archives including ONE Archives and Lesbian Herstory Archives curate artifacts tied to iconography.

Political and Legal Impact

The movement has influenced laws, policy, and court decisions across jurisdictions, intersecting with landmark cases and institutions such as United States Supreme Court rulings including Obergefell v. Hodges and legislative acts like Employment Non-Discrimination Act proposals, as well as legal reforms in Argentina, South Africa, United Kingdom, and Canada. Activism shaped public health policy during the AIDS epidemic through groups like ACT UP and influenced anti-discrimination statutes, marriage equality campaigns led by figures such as Ellen DeGeneres (public advocacy), and lobbying by organizations like Human Rights Campaign and Lambda Legal.

Cultural Representation and Media

Media portrayals evolved from early clandestine publications such as ONE Magazine and Gay Sunshine to mainstream visibility in television series like Will & Grace, Pose (TV series), The L Word, Orange Is the New Black, films like Brokeback Mountain, Milk (film), and documentaries produced by outlets including BBC, HBO, and PBS. Literary contributions by Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Jeanette Winterson, and Alice Walker intersect with theater in venues such as The Public Theater and film festivals like Sundance Film Festival and Berlinale.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques address commercialization and corporate sponsorship involving companies like Apple Inc., Google, and Coca-Cola, debates over policing and police participation at events after incidents in cities such as Toronto and London, tensions between mainstream organizations and grassroots groups including Transformative Justice advocates, and intersectionality disputes raised by activists including Audre Lorde and bell hooks. Controversies also concern censorship in countries such as Russia, Poland, and Uganda, and debates over inclusion of diverse constituencies represented by groups like InterPride and local collectives.

Category:Social movements