Happy Pride Month!  

This month marks 50 years of Pride within the UK! In these years, there have been so many challenges to our rights and acceptance. However, we have come a long way as a community, building more love and kindness. There have been so many strong people who have fought for our rights today, but where did it all start?  

Stonewall 1969  

In New York 1969, a small bar named The Stonewall Inn was the beginning of the future for the LGBTQ+ community. This was an active LGBTQ + bar, although it was illegal in almost every state at the time. This often-caused police raids within bars like Stonewall, and concluded in employees being arrested, as well as shutting down the bars for homosexual acts.   

On June 27th, 1969 a mass of undercover police conducted an evening raid in Stonewall, arresting more employees, as well as drag queens, and cross-dressers, causing many large fights, lasting until 4 am the next morning.  Many more supporters of the community gathered in and around Stonewall chanting “Gay power” and “We shall overcome”. The riot increased intensely after the police raided yet again, beating and tear-gassing members of the crowd. This led to local newspapers using homophobic slurs, attacking the community even further.  The riot eventually calmed down by July 2nd, 1969. In order to mark the achievements, they had set on behalf of the community, Stonewall had their first Gay Pride Parade a year later, on 28th June 1970. This has generated over the years into what it is today!  

Stonewall UK has some great resources and workshops available to learn more:  

https://www.stonewall.org.uk/  

Help and Support  

Mindout is a safe space for all LGBTQ+ people to talk openly about their mental health. It is run by many within the community, based in Brighton and Hove. However, they do have online services and workshops that are available globally. Please check out their website if you feel you are struggling or just need someone to talk to openly:  

https://mindout.org.uk/  

The Beaumont Society is a UK charity that focuses on the transgender community. They help with mental health support and confidence for individuals and their journeys. If you want to find out more information, visit their website here:   

https://www.beaumontsociety.org.uk/  

Birmingham LGBT is a charity supporting the LGBT community with a range of services focused on improving the health & wellbeing of individuals. To learn about their services, please check out their website: 

https://blgbt.org/ 

From our team to you…  

Here at Creative Alliance, we believe in equality for all! We accept NO form of discrimination within any community from staff, learners, or employers. On behalf of the team, we want to wish everyone a happy pride month!  

  

Sarah (she/her)  

Content Creator and Digital Marketing Apprentice at Creative Alliance.