Glasgow celebrated Pride on July 20th, with members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies marching all the way from Govan to Glasgow Green! We all recognise the colourful march and the classic rainbow iconography but how did Pride originate? Flourish member Zoe has explored the history of Pride and written about why it’s still important today
Part 1: Origins
Brief Modern History
June is Pride Month around the world. Where we celebrate and show solidarity with those under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. People who have struggled both at home and around the world. Lots of marches happen in June, but where did this movement start?
The ‘modern’ LGBT movement can be traced to the 1900’s, but it wasn’t until after the second world war that activists really started to ramp up efforts. One example of this is that at the time, in the USA it was illegal to serve queer people alcohol. The Mattachine Society protested this by organising a ‘sip-in’, announcing that they were gay before ordering drinks.
Stonewall
The Stonewall Riots took place in June 1969 which is named for the Stonewall Inn, a well known LGBT bar that existed during a dangerous time. This resulted in them suffering frequent police raids. On the 28th of June, the people fought back. Patrons and locals stood up to their aggressors in a conflict that lasted 6 days. An act that really moved the issue of equality into the mainstream.
The First Pride March
On the first anniversary of the riots, 28th June 1970 a march was held to mark the date. This first Pride march was named for one of the groups that organised the event; the Christopher Street Liberation Day March (the group itself named for the street on which Stonewall Inn is found).
Trans and Pride
Despite what you might have heard from politicians and the media. During the riots, the first march, those that followed and in our towns and communities.
Trans people have always existed.
Marsha P. Johnson
One famous name that people might have heard from the Stonewall Riots is Marsha P. Johnson. Language has changed a lot over the last 50 years. Terms that exist today didn’t exist then; so the way that we would have described things has changed. With that in mind, Marsha described herself in a way that would, if we had today’s terms, show that she saw herself as a trans woman.
One of the most well known names to come out of the Stonewall Riots, Marsha was known for being the woman who threw the first stone of the riots. But according to the woman herself this is a myth. Explaining her actions during the riot she said what actually happened was that she showed up late having heard what was happening, bringing with her a handbag full of rocks. She went on to climb a lamp post and hurl the rocks down at the police cars in attendance.
Sadly, the handbag was something she always had with her. She experienced frequent abuse from police and the public and carried the bag to help her to defend herself. She was at high risk already by virtue of being trans, and the discrimination that accompanies this left her spending a lot of time homeless and self employed as a sex worker. Amazingly she didn’t let this destroy her. Despite her struggles and outspoken personality she was a beloved member of the community with a resolute personality. When asked on the street and even when in court, she said the P. in her name stood for “Pay it no mind” shrugging off the difficulties she faced.
Following the riots, Marsha and fellow trans woman Sylvia founded STAR House in an attempt to provide housing for homeless LGBT youth. While it didn’t last long, it was an ambitious and groundbreaking attempt to care for a vulnerable minority. Which pioneered a model that’s still looked to today.
Part 2: Pride Today
July brings with it Glasgow’s Pride March, so this month we take a brief look at why Pride is still necessary today. A cynical take might view Pride as being little more than an excuse to dress up and celebrate. Or maybe just an opportunity for corporations and political groups to ‘pinkwash’ their reputations for a few weeks. In reality while there are celebrations, and while organisations definitely take advantage of the opportunity; Pride isn’t just these shallow things.
Awareness
Only around 5 to 10% of people identify as LGBTQIA+. Meaning the vast majority of people don’t. At the higher end there would be 90 cis-hetero people for every 10 queer people. Focusing on a specific type of person makes the difference even more stark; for example less than 10% of queer people identify as asexual so there might be 1 ace person for every 99 cis-hetero people. With this in mind, having space to meet other people like yourself, and in the process raise awareness of our existence with those around us is invaluable. It creates space for the community to develop and wider understanding to grow.
Protest
In the UK and around the world, minority rights are not something to be taken for granted. Decision makers can rewrite laws on a whim, removing or restricting rights that the majority of people might consider immutable; all in the hopes of a couple more votes from swing voters. For example, in the UK, for the longest time same sex couples weren’t allowed to marry, leaving them unable to share the same rights under law as those in a hetero marriage. Here in Scotland, we haven’t even reached the ten year mark of this being corrected (December, 2014). While in Northern Ireland it’s still not legal. Even in the UK, same-sex marriage is still not fully legalised.
Our ruling classes have a long history of pointing the finger at minorities when they need someone to scapegoat; migrants, the disabled, homosexuals and more recently trans people. These comparatively tiny groups being blamed for things they couldn’t possibly have power over; the cost of living crisis, the underfunded NHS, the weather. In recent years especially the rights and healthcare of trans people has constantly been ‘debated’ and ‘scrutinised’ by people with zero knowledge of the people affected.
The NHS aims, admittedly with varying success, to see people within 12 weeks for a first appointment. By comparison, seeing a doctor to seek a gender dysphoria diagnosis can take literal years, and sadly you can expect to wait years on top of that before any hint of treatment is offered. Differing standards of care between demographics should be considered discriminatory. But for the people affected here, they are expected to wait, struggle and watch their lives disappear in front of them.
Even those that persevere long enough to get treated and attempt to make a life for themselves aren’t able to let their guard down. The new Westminster government has already committed to continue using the trans community as a punching bag. While the health secretary promises to uphold a ban on healthcare for the young; ignoring established principles (Gillick Competence) and medical best practice in the process. Our Prime Minister hints towards his intention to scrap the Gender Recognition Act, threatening the existence of the 5000 or so people that have managed to successfully clear the barriers required for a Gender Recognition Certificate.
Even as the future of treatment pathways and legal recognition is left to the whims of the privileged few. Some people never got that opportunity for recognition to begin with. Non-binary people aren’t recognised at all under UK law, putting them outside of the existing legal framework, leaving them vulnerable to discrimination and alienation without recourse. While we face all of the above at home in the UK, around the world the position of LGBTQIA+ people varies. In many places things are better, but in many others – much worse. To give just a brief look at the negativity people face: 64 countries still have some amount of criminalisation towards LGBTQIA+ people, with 12 of those still having the death penalty for same-sex activity.
End Bit
Even if all of our problems at home were solved overnight. There would still be a need for pride; both to bolster and protect our existing hard won rights, while trying to do what we can for those at risk in other countries.
So while, yes, we celebrate ourselves and each other. Protest still belongs at pride, just as it did in 1969.
Song recommendation: Enter Shikari – Satellites
