9 Facts We Bet You Didn’t Know About The LGBT Pride

Recently India took a step forward for the LGBT community. The country witnessed the most beautiful rainbow ever by decriminalizing homosexuality (section 377).

So today, let’s talk about 9 facts you definitely didn’t know about the LGBT community

1. The Stonewall Uprising

On the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a g-a-y bar in New York’s Greenwich Village. Although police raids in g-a-y bars was a common thing, this time the people decided that enough is enough. This time the people fought back. It was the first time that queer people stood up to police on such a large scale, and is often cited as the beginning of the modern G-a-y Rights Movement.

2. The Advocate

Two years before the Stonewall riot, a similar incident took place at The Black Cat Tavern, a g-a-y bar in LA. Out of rage, two patrons began a publication for the g-a-y population of Los Angeles, which eventually became one of the largest LGBT magazines, The  Advocate.

3. The Lambda

The Greek Lambda symbol was another commonly used G-a-y Rights symbol prior to the Rainbow Flag, and was the sign of the G-a-y Activist Alliance. We have come a long way since then!

4. The First Flag

The first rainbow flag made its debut at the San Francisco Pride Parade in 1978. It was designed by Gilbert Baker and consisted of eight symbolic colors.

5. Dropping Stripes

Due to unavailability of the of hot pink baric, Baker dropped the hot pink stripe from the design. To make the number of stripes even on the flag, the turquoise stripe was also dropped.

6. Sao Paulo

Sao Paulo, Brazil, hosted the world’s largest Pride parade with an estimated 3.5 million attendees in 2011. Unbelievable right!

7. The Rise of Pride

After the cultural changes and decreased militancy in the 1980s and 1990s, the regularly used ‘G-a-y Liberation’ and ‘Freedom’ took a back seat and ‘G-a-y Pride’ took flight!

8. Oldest LGBT Organisation

The oldest surviving LGBT organization in the world is the Netherlands’ Center for Culture and Leisure (COC). It was founded in 1946 and used a cover name back then to mask its taboo purpose.

9. Pentagon’s First G-a-y Pride

In June 2012 the Pentagon held their first G-a-y Pride event since “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” was repealed in 2010. The event included a panel discussion entitled “The Value of Open Service and Diversity”. Without the use of floats and wigs, it still went down in history as the first g-a-y pride event held at the Pentagon!

So these were 9 lesser known facts about the LGBT community just like it’s members. But times are changing and it is so nice to finally see the LGBT community for who they are and not through the eyes of the government! Go Pride!