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How To Participate In Pride Month 2023

June 6, 2023

We are wishing you a very happy Pride Month! While there is always work to do, there is so much to celebrate. In 2022, 91% of anti-LGBTQIA+ bills failed to become law. More than 400 LGBTQIA+ candidates were elected in the US in 2022, which is now referred to as the Rainbow Wave. In 2021, the Biden Administration announced the U.S. would protect gay and transgender folks from healthcare discrimination.

This year, over 100 countries will observe Pride Month to not only celebrate visibility, equity, and inclusion, but also to perpetuate the dialogue around LGBTQIA+ violence, discrimination, and the efforts to churn societal, and legal change for LGBTQIA+ folks. Some of the largest global pride celebrations are in Los Angeles, New York City, São Paulo, Madrid, Berlin, and many others. The “OG” Pride Parade in New York City will be held on June 25th and is expected to draw millions of people around the theme “Strength in Solidarity.”

Trans Resistance hosted its 4th annual March and Festival this past Saturday, June 3rd, at Stony Brook Station. The Trans Resistance is committed to providing support and programming specifically for Trans, Queer, Black, Indigenous People of Color, or TQBIPOC. In the past few years, the US has seen a record number of bills targeting trans youth, for example, by banning gender-affirming medical care. The ACLU is tracking 62 anti-LGBTQIA+ bills that have been signed into law and a total of 272 that are advancing. While there is a lot to celebrate, this particular community is experiencing historically high levels of attacks. Consider donating to, or getting involved in trans organizations like the Trans Resistance of MA. 

For those who are new to LGBTQIA+ history, here’s a short summary of the major details. The origins of Pride Month date back to June 28th, 1969, when police officers raided The Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City, and discharged patrons; a majority of those patrons happened to be people of color. While it was not the first time police raided a gay bar, and it was not the first time LGBTQIA+ individuals pushed back, news of the Stonewall Uprising from alternative newspapers like the Village Voice, played a major role in building awareness and visibility which paved the way for positive social, and legal changes for the LGBTQIA+ community, initially benefitting white cis LGBTQIA+ folks. Among many other organizations, The Gay Liberation Front was founded in NYC, openly claiming the word “gay,” and became the incubator for bringing LGBTQIA+ movements into the mass political sphere. The Christopher Street Liberation march was bravely held the following year in 1970, in NYC, and evolved into what we know today as the Pride Parade, in NYC.

As a Questrom Community member, there are plenty of ways to participate in Pride Month 2023, with your circle of friends, and family, or out on the town!

  1. Attend a Pride Parade
    • Boston Pride for The People will host their annual parade and festival on Saturday, June 10th starting in Copley Square at 11AM. The purpose of this event is to “commemorate the brave LGBTQIA+ people who risked their safety to advocate for the lives and humanity of LGBTQIA+ people,” and bring attention to those that “face intersecting forms of oppression.” The festival will take place at 12PM on the Boston Common and will feature the up-and-coming popstar and self-proclaimed “rainbow girl” Madison Rose. Check out more events this month here at meet boston.com.
  2. Check out Cohort Q’s Pride Month Programming, Questrom’s LGBTQIA+ student led organization.
    • Cohort Q’s mission is “to connect LGBTQIA+ students and allies by providing networking and social opportunities, a forum to discuss LGBTQIA+ issues in the workplace, and a community of support for LGBTQIA+ students.” Join Cohort Q for Happy Hour every Saturday this month starting on June 3rd at Nightshift on the Esplanade. They will also represent at the Boston Pride Parade on June 10th. For the entire list of programming, please check out their Instagram here!
  3. Get involved in the programming for the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty and Staff
    • The LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty and Staff works to “increase the visibility of LGBTQIA+ resources, research, and scholarship; celebrate the contributions of the diverse LGBTQIA+ community at BU; and improve recruitment and retention of LGBTQIA+ faculty and staff in the development of an inclusive and equitable workplace.” There are a handful of events coming up, including Pride Night at Fenway on June 13th.  Visit their website for more information!
  4. Volunteer
    • There are several Boston based LGBTQIA+ organizations that rely on volunteer help such as BAGLY, The Boston Alliance of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Youth, and Gay For Good, LGBTQIA+ and ally volunteer mobilizer which is hosting several events this June and beyond, such as the Chandler Street Block Party, Greater Boston Food Bank Packing and Distribution event, and the Prison Book Program Mailing and Wrapping event.
  5. Be An Ally
    • Educate yourself through respectful and open conversations about LGBTQIA+ stories and experiences. You can use BU’s D&I resources and self-education toolkit. Consider donating to an LGBTQIA+ non-profit or purchasing from an LGBTQIA+ owned business. Park-9 Dog Bar just opened in Everett, Massachusetts, and is LGBTQIA+ owned and led by Questrom alumna Emily Gusse (Questrom’23). Park-9 takes it a step further by incorporating LGBTQIA+ owned products into their menu.

For more Questrom LGBTQIA+ resources please visit Cohort Q’s home page on Questrom Commons, Boston University’s Premier Queer Business Organization Pride in Business Instagram Page, or the LGBTQIA+ Center for Faculty & Staff.  For BU’s full Pride Month Calendar use this link.

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