On June 28th, 1969, the New York Police Department raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. The initial raid sparked a six-day protest in which LGBTQIA+ individuals fought back against decades of oppression that had been enforced socially and institutionally. After the events of Stonewall, the modern LGBTQIA+ movement took off and allowed for more recognition for the previously frowned-upon lifestyle.
On June 28th, 1970, the first Pride march was organized, and an estimated 5,000 people participated. During the event, same-sex couples embraced each other freely on the streets of New York for the first time without the threat of violence.
According to the Pew Research Center, 7% of the U.S. population is made up of LGBTQIA+ individuals, a substantial and influential number of people.
Last week, President Donald Trump’s administration removed the large Pride flag displayed in front of the Stonewall National Monument in New York City. The removal of the rainbow flag comes after various other moves from Trump’s administration to silence the LGBTQIA+ community.
The flag represents the diversity and complexity of the LGBTQIA+ movement, and removing it damages the entire group.
On Feb. 10th, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani wrote on the social media platform X, “I am outraged by the removal of the Rainbow Pride Flag from Stonewall National Monument. New York is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement, and no act of erasure will ever change, or silence, that history.”
The flag has since been replaced; however, the initial removal insinuates a harmful message.
In late January, Trump signed an executive order titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” The order rigorously explains, “‘Sex’ shall refer to an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female.”
The order later states, “‘Gender identity’ reflects a fully internal and subjective sense of self, disconnected from biological reality and sex and existing on an infinite continuum, that does not provide a meaningful basis for identification and cannot be recognized as a replacement for sex.” This order essentially strips individuals of their sense of self that many people use to define their identity.
The executive order seeks to limit an individual's ability to choose an identity they are comfortable with and restricts personal freedom, even though the community itself is “immutable,” with identities that are deeply personal and historically rooted.
Homosexuality dates back to 2400 BCE when two men, Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum, were displayed embracing each other, noses touching, on the outside of their shared tomb. This intimate pose was typically reserved for married women and men; however, the tomb disregarded all societal expectations researchers thought they knew. The two thrived in Egyptian society, broke social norms and exhibited their affection to the world.
In 1924, Henry Gerber founded The Society for Human Rights in Chicago. The organization focused on publishing scientific research regarding homosexuality. Gerber published the first known newsletter that addressed homosexuality, titled “Friendship and Freedom.” Later, he was arrested for the newsletter, and the organization was disbanded shortly after.
These instances are just a few of many where LGBTQIA+ people have made themselves known. Further representation of queer people is essential to keep the often-suppressed group thriving. It’s important now, more than ever, to support local organizations and businesses that make LGBTQIA+ rights a priority.
The Southeastern Ohio Rainbow Alliance was founded in 2016 and focuses on spreading awareness for the LGBTQIA+ community. In 2018, SEORA held its first annual Pride Fest in Athens, a week-long event honoring the community as a whole. SEORA has given $4,000 to gender-affirming surgeries and has awarded $1,000 in scholarships to LGBTQIA+ students.
Kindred Market is a local organic grocery store that is an active supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights. In-store, you can find over a dozen different businesses owned by LGBTQIA+ individuals and support them. Having local organizations in support of the LGBTQIA+ community is what encourages them to thrive in an environment where they are not widely accepted.
Using your voice, resources and community is essential for maintaining traction and growth in a group that is actively being suppressed. The LGBTQIA+ movement wasn’t created to adapt to the world; it was created so the world would adapt to it and open up representation and equality for all members.
Adam Gerber is a freshman studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Adam about their column? Email ag967424@ohio.edu
