“June is Pride Month, when the world’s LGBT communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves.” – CNN

Pride is usually celebrated with lots of parades and marches but do you know how it all started, why it exists or how to support the community? Keep reading to learn more!

This article will go over…

• What LGBTQ+ Pride Month Is & Why it Exists
• How To Show Your Support
• Getting You and Your Pet Ready For Pride

What Is LGBTQ+ Pride Month?

Pride month is celebrated annually to honor and support those who identify as LGBTQ+. These celebrations work to achieve equality and spread awareness.

How Did It Start?

Pride commemorates the Stonewall riots, which began in the early hours of June 28, 1969, after police raided the Stonewall Inn bar (a gay bar) in New York. This brought up tensions, and the gay community started up a riot that ended up lasting for 3 days due to the years of harassment by authorities. These uprisings meant new organizations were formed such as the Gay Liberation Front and the Gay Activists Alliance. About a year after the Stonewall riots, the first Gay Pride marches were held.

To learn a bit more about LGBTQ+ history beyond just pride, check out the video below (was released in 2019):

Why Is Pride Month Still Celebrated Today?

Those who identify as LGBTQ+ are still discriminated against and receive many inequalities within society today. It’s important to remember that pride isn’t just a celebration, but is directly associated with political unrest and violence against LGBTQ2S+ people.

(Image credit= Pinterest)

How To Show Your Support

There are many different ways to show your support! Here are a few ideas:

• Hang a Pride flag outside your home
• Support independent queer businesses
• Watch some Pride-themed movies (Netflix has a Pride genre for Pride Month)
• Join virtual events
• Become an ally
• Organize your own event
• Read books with LGBTQ+ representation
• Read books written by authors of the community
• Support businesses that support the LGBTQ community
• Donate to The International LGBTQ Travel Association (they help provide marketing support to LGBTQ businesses)

Getting You and Your Pet Ready For Pride

It’s no surprise that LGBTQ+ people love their pets, especially their pups! In fact, a recent survey reveals pet ownership is more than 10% more common among gay respondents than in the general population. Overall, 78.5% of gay and lesbian respondents reported keeping a pet.

You can really show your support in many different ways, even with your furry friends! Bring your dogs to pride parades and consider giving them pride merch such as rainbow collars, leashes, toys, and bandannas.

If you’re planning on buying pride things for your pets, we recommend to…

Check Out Petsmarts New Pride Collection!

Petsmart has a new “You Are Loved” collection! They are a supporter of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) and will donate $100,000 in 2021 to help ensure every member, in every school, is valued. Click here to check it out!

Support some of these Etsy shops…

https://www.etsy.com/ca/market/dog_clothing_gay_pride

Check out Petcos New Pride Collection!

Petco is proud to donate 10% of every Pride purchase to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that provides lifesaving crisis counseling to LGBTQ youth. Celebrate your one-of-a-kind pet with unique Pride apparel that helps you support the cause. Click here to check it out!

Stay safe and have a great pride month! We’d love it if you’d share a photo of your pet during pride and tag us @crittermamas.