From Protest to Pride

"No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us." - Marsha P. Johnson

Pride Month is a time of celebration for the LGBTQIA+ community but did you know it began with a protest?

On June 28, 1969, the Stonewall Inn in New York City became the site of an uprising led by LGBTQIA+ people, particularly trans women of color, drag queens, and unhoused queer youth. Police regularly raided gay bars, arrested people for simply being present, and humiliated LGBTQIA+ people by forcing them to show ID or “prove” their gender. Same-sex dancing, kissing, or dressing outside of gender norms could lead to jail time, fines, or public outing which often resulted in loss of jobs and housing. The Stonewall Inn was one of the few places where queer people could gather and be themselves. When police raided the bar again that night in June 1969, the community had had enough and decided it was time to fight back. The Stonewall Uprising wasn’t the first act of resistance, but it sparked a powerful wave of activism and what we now recognize as the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement.

At the time of Stonewall, being gay or trans was pathologized, classified as a mental illness and punishable by law, or “treated” through harmful practices like conversion therapy. The trauma of those years has had a lasting impact, one of many that LGBTQIA+ folks still feel today. The impact of these practices and the ongoing attack on LGBTQIA+ rights contribute to higher rates of anxiety, depression, PTSD, and suicidality, especially for trans folks and queer youth of color.

That’s why Pride Month is more than celebration, it’s a space for healing.

If you're part of the LGBTQIA+ community and struggling this month, whether with visibility, family rejection, grief, the current political climate or just the weight of history, please know that you are not alone. It’s okay to feel complicated emotions around Pride. There’s room for joy, exhaustion, anger, and hope. And most importantly there’s space for you.

Therapy can offer a safe place to unpack all of that. Whether you’re processing trauma, exploring your identity, or simply trying to feel more like yourself, affirming mental health support can help you reconnect with your story and your worth. At our practice, we honor Pride’s roots by continuing the work and showing up with care, creating safe spaces, and helping LGBTQIA+ folks thrive. Not just during Pride, but every day.

You deserve support and you matter.

By: Dr. Montana Bright PhD, LPC, LCPC, CST, NCC