Pride Month | 05 Jul 2024

Source: IE

Why in News?

Pride Month, celebrated every June, is a time of reflection, celebration, and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community. Its origins trace back to the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. 

  • Over the decades, Pride Month has evolved from a single day of remembrance to a month-long celebration recognised globally.

Why is Pride Month Celebrated in June?

  • Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Uprising of 1969(New York), a pivotal event in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. 
  • In 1999, President Bill Clinton declared June as “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.” Subsequent presidents, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden, have continued this tradition, recognising June as LGBTQ Pride Month.

What were the Stonewall Riots?

  • Riots: In the 1960s, homosexuality was illegal and solicitation was a punishable offence in the US. LGBTQ people sought acceptance and community in places like the Stonewall Inn, a refuge for the LGBTQ community in Greenwich Village, New York.
    • On 28th June 1969, New York police raided the Stonewall Inn for selling alcohol without a licence, sparking rage among the LGBTQ community and leading to six days of riots. 
    • The riots are seen as a turning point in the LGBTQ community's struggle for rights and recognition.
    • Marsha P. Johnson, a transgender sex worker, played a key role in the riots and is now seen as a significant figure in the LGBTQ community. 
  • Post Riots: After Stonewall, activists organised a march to commemorate its anniversary with the theme "gay pride" to celebrate the community's sense of pride and unity in their sexual and gender identities. 
    • The celebration of Pride expanded to a month-long event and gained official recognition, becoming a call for visibility and unity within the LGBTQ community. 
    • The celebration of Pride in America was adopted worldwide, with regional variations to make the movement more inclusive.
  • Impact of the Riots: The riots at Stonewall were a movement against police brutality and discrimination faced by queer people for decades. The riots gave public visibility to non-conventional gender identities and sexual orientations, and Pride Month now represents fearless identity and proud unity.

LGBTQIA+ Rights in the United States 

  • The US Supreme Court ruled that all states allow same-sex marriages and recognize those performed out of state.
  • There is no federal law specifically prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. 
    • However, the US Supreme Court's ruling implies that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is a form of sex discrimination, which is prohibited under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

LGBTQIA+ Rights in India 

  • In 1994, voting rights were legally granted to individuals identifying as a third sex.
  • In 2014, the Supreme Court of India ruled that transgender people should be treated as a third gender category.
  • In 2017, the LGBTQIA+ community in India was given the freedom to express their sexual orientation, protected by the Right to Privacy.
  • The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 to provide for the protection of rights and welfare of transgender people.
  • Same-sex marriage is not expressly recognised as a fundamental or constitutional right under the Indian Constitution, but it provides some limited recognition to cohabiting same-sex couples. 
    • The SC has held that the right to marry a person of one's choice is integral to Article 21 of the Constitution, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community are entitled to the full range of constitutional rights, including equal protection under the law.