It’s June— and no doubt, you’ll start seeing random posts for Gay Pride celebrations, parties, parades and events, as well as the now ubiquitous rainbow symbol which has come to represent the LGBT community.
The rainbow Pride symbols have even appeared on two prominent buildings on each side of the Atlantic that resonate with Greek Americans. Both the U.S. Embassy in Athens, as well as the Embassy of Greece in Washington DC celebrated Pride in their own way.
To gays and lesbians— and their allies, June is “Pride Month,” but what I’ve realized is that most of my straight friends, not to mention the vast majority of my younger LGBT friends, think Pride is just another excuse to have a parade and celebrate.
Most people don’t know that the first “pride” celebrations were actually riots— the violent kind.
It was June 1969 and gays and lesbians were amongst the most discriminated population groups in the nation.
Across the Atlantic only decades earlier, homosexuals were targeted in Nazi Germany for extermination and were classified in death camps with a pink triangle.
Same-sex relations were outlawed in 49 states and homosexuals were regular targets of everyday discrimination and violence— just because of the way they were born.
Activism had been brewing in cities with large gay populations but no one saw this coming— not even the LGBT activists of the era.
On a balmy June night in 1969, New York City police raided a gay bar called the Stonewall Inn and began harassing patrons— just because they were gay.
It was a defining moment in American history when these subjugated people had enough of the discrimination, enough of the ridicule. Enough of the living in the periphery of society.
The Stonewall Riots, otherwise known as the Stonewall Uprising, lasted three days and nights and saw members of the LGBTQ community come out in full force and fight back against the police, creating a spark that would ignite similar movements throughout the nation.
Ironically today, in states across the country, we are witnessing the attempt to roll back the rights that were won by these activists in the years that followed the Stonewall Riots.
When you see or hear about Pride celebrations, or wonder what all the fuss about with department stores, television shows and much of mainstream America jumping on the “Pride” bandwagon this month, please know where this has all come from.
It comes from the struggle of a particular group of Americans who happened to be born different, who wanted to be treated the same way all other Americans were being treated.
May the memory of these activists of 1969 live on and may today’s activists find inspiration in their zeal and passion.
PS: Here’s a great summary video from the History Channel to watch:
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3 comments
Because you’re frequently posting articles promoting the gay lifestyle, I have to ask if you’re acting as a journalist or advocate, considering you never post any articles regarding, let alone supporting The Church’s position. Do you believe in sex outside of marriage? How about the Sacrament of Confession? Do you identify as an Orthodox Christian? Do you believe that the Church should change its position/tradition?
What are you smoking? Please share. Love and light to you my friend. You certainly have a lot of darkness around you and could use some. -GP
good afternoon George everybody else who thinks the sameas you. Yes there’s a lot I can say about this article and I thought you’re coming and the church’s stance and position on civil and equal rights for our gay members in our in our churches and Greek American communities.. Our American church still has a poor stance on civil and human rights and general.. I can’t believe we’re celebrating 200 years of Greek Independence no. Remember our church fought hold heartedly to gain its independence.. but in this country would taking a back stand and really a rear burner stance on civil rights. we can’t continue living on the laurels of the late Archbishop iakovos truly
Brave effort risking his life by participating in the march on Selma in March of 1965. remember that momentous day Archbishop marched inches away with the Reverend Martin Luther King. but today no more I believe our churches are too comfortable living in our own Greek ghettos.
so many Greek proud cockey men tell me there’s no gays in our community and if they are they know their place silence. The third class citizenship we get in both communities. love you much more but today I’ll leave you with this note that in a good part of a year I’ve been taunted and teased
.and last February I was attacked because I was gay at this Greek pizzeria here in Bay Ridge.. permanently damaging my knees where l cannot work properly again without a lot of pain which drugs like oxycodone.. so this is what I’m Creek Community Church to bully people who happens to be gay a senior who’s been fighting for civil rights since I was 24 years old.. only to be abused and roughed up third world thinking Greek one here in United States.. what I can say is 200 years of Greek Independence hasn’t taught many Greek to be thankful and cherish what we have in United States
while we ignore the ills in this world. I can’t the active because I can’t walk properly again got me a deep depression. anybody else needs to hear more contact me at : georplagian@gmail.com. I thank you Gregory for bringing this article up with much more I can say. I’m having such a hard time typing this comment it’s so slow and then all these pop-up fabric softener commercials it blocks my concentration and ability to type properly
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