Pride Month and Juneteenth: Why They Matter Now More Than Ever

We are officially halfway through 2025, and what a year it has been so far (no explanation needed!). 

During such a difficult and divisive time, it is imperative for us to talk about Pride Month and Juneteenth. We cannot simply gloss over them as observations to be ticked off on the calendar. These are REAL people with REAL stories who are currently being pushed to the sidelines. 

So, let’s talk about it.

The origin of Pride Month began on June 28th, 1969, with a case of police brutality against a marginalized group of people… sound familiar? 

The police used outdated cross-dressing laws suggesting a “man” or a “woman” needed to be dressed in clothing which matched the gender on their state-issued ID as an excuse to raid the Stonewall Inn. They aimed to arrest a number of transgender and gender non-conforming folks. But on this day, the people fought back. The exact events of the night are a blur, but this was later to be known as the Stonewall riots, and began the movement to fight for LGBTQ+ rights. 

The first Pride march occurred in 1970 in Manhattan, but Pride Month only became recognized in 1999 following a proclamation from former President Bill Clinton. It took nearly 30 years for change to begin. Since then, Barack Obama and Joe Biden have issued further declarations. 

We still have a long way to go, especially now that the history and contributions of the LGTBQ+ community are at risk of being erased and forgotten. This is blatantly clear, especially following moves such as Google removing Pride Month, Black History Month, Juneteenth, and more observances from their online calendar used by MILLIONS of users around the world (erasure!!). It goes further than that by banning books and curriculums, and when one tampers with the content taught in schools, it is erasing their history, and erasing their existence. 

Just like in George Orwell’s famous book 1984, the erasure of words and alteration of language can permanently influence and change how people think. When we do not have words to describe our circumstances to others, they automatically become irrelevant. This is what leads to the exclusion and a lack of belonging for an entire group of people. 

And much like 1984, our current reality is being actively shaped by the media, whether it’s traditional news outlets, social media, or independent news sources. There is intentional work being done to exclude, demoralize, and desensitize us…. In some ways, it’s working. We’re made to feel tired, burnt out, and have low civic engagement. 

The question then becomes…how can we intentionally resist while still keeping our peace? 

Well firstly, rest IS resistance. You need sufficient energy if you’re going to stand up for what you believe in. 

That’s why 92% of Black women are now in “rest mode”...including myself. 

Juneteenth honors June 19, 1865 when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas were freed from slavery, TWO YEARS AFTER the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. 

But there were still Black Americans enslaved in Delaware who weren’t freed until December 6, 1865, when the 13th Amendment was finally ratified. 

On June 17, 2021, former President Joe Biden finally signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making Juneteenth a federal U.S. holiday. However, unlike the 4th of July with its fanfare and loud presence, Juneteenth remained just another day on many people’s calendars, despite being often referred to as “America’s 2nd independence day”. 

Many people had never even heard about it and did not know it was a federal holiday, reflecting how Black slaves in 1865 Texas were not told they were meant to be freed in 1863.

Hosea 4:6: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." 

This is just another example of how the history of the Black community has been neglected, overlooked, and erased. 

This year, the Defense Department of the Pentagon even removed images of military contributions referencing women, LGBTQ+, Black people, and many other minority groups. Higher education has removed Women’s studies and all content on critical race theory, effectively erasing its existence, as if it is not a crucial part of American history and current events. 

So, how can we RESIST? 

Equally as important is how you can ADVOCATE for others. 

I encourage you to resist in a way that nourishes YOU! Explore in-person ways to engage with communities, whether it’s through your professional network or in your personal life. 

What we see in our virtual and augmented reality distorts how we perceive our physical reality. However, I want to remind you that the beauty of ALL realities is that we have an active part in shaping them.

Sometimes, resistance moves in silence.

Share with me in the comments: What do these significant June observations (Pride & Juneteenth) mean to you? 

I’m looking to evolve my coaching program to the next level with mentorship, using trust, compassion, and integrity as core pillars. Check out my current program here. Let’s help you Stop Being The Best Kept Secret ® !

June Observances:

• LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month: Pride Month is celebrated every June as a tribute to those who were involved in the Stonewall Riots. Pride Month is largely credited as being started by bisexual activist Brenda Howard. Known as ‘The Mother of Pride,’ Brenda organized Gay Pride Week and the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade a year after the Stonewall Riots. This eventually morphed into what we now know as the New York City Pride March and was the catalyst for the formation of similar parades and marches across the world.

• Immigrant Heritage Month: Since June of 2014, Immigrant Heritage Month has given people an opportunity to annually explore their own heritage and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of America. Especially in our current climate, we need to be honoring and highlighting everything immigrants have done to help America.

• Caribbean American Heritage Month: This is a time to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of Caribbean Americans, as well as to recognize their diverse cultures, histories, and heritage. The month was officially recognized in 2006, with the U.S. House of Representatives passing a resolution in 2005 acknowledging the impact of Caribbean people and their descendants.

• June 2 - Native American Citizenship Day: This day commemorates the enactment of the "Indian Citizenship Act" on that day in 1924. This Act granted citizenship to Native Americans who had previously been excluded from U.S. citizenship. 

• June 5 - World Environment Day: Plastic pollution permeates every corner of the planet—even in our bodies in the form of microplastics. By drawing inspiration from nature and showcasing real-world solutions, the campaign will encourage individuals, organizations, industries, and governments to adopt sustainable practices that drive systemic change. This year’s World Environment Day comes exactly two months before countries meet again to continue negotiating a global treaty to end plastic pollution.

• June 12 - National Loving Day: This day commemorates the 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia, which struck down state laws banning interracial marriage. This landmark ruling made it illegal for any state to prohibit marriage based on race.

• June 13 - LGBTQ+ Equal Pay Awareness Day: This year, June 13 marks LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day—a day to recognize the wage gap between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQIA+) workers and their straight and cisgender counterparts. LBTQIA+ workers earn only 90 cents for every dollar paid to a white, non-Hispanic man.

• June 15 - Father's Day: Father's Day honors the role fathers play in our families and society. This day recognizes not just fathers, but the father figures in our lives. These are the men we look up to who set solid examples for us and guide us throughout our lives.

• June 18 - International Day of Countering Hate Speech: Hate speech in the form of xenophobia, racism, antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred, anti-LGBTQIA2S+ hatred, misogyny and other types of intolerance is on the rise worldwide, spreading faster and further than ever before through social media. Both online and offline, hate speech targets and dehumanizes people and peoples based on who they are – often by actors seeking political gain. 

• June 19 - Juneteenth: This is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. The holiday is considered the "longest-running African-American holiday" and has been called "America's second Independence Day".

• June 20 - World Refugee Day: Each year on this day, the world honors the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. This year, World Refugee Day focuses on solidarity with refugees. Solidarity means honoring refugees not just with words but with actions. It means listening to them and making space for their stories. It means defending their right to seek safety and finding solutions to their plight, ending conflicts so they can return home in safety.

• June 21 - National Indigenous People's Day: This is a time to recognize and celebrate the traditions, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. This takes place on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. For generations, many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities have celebrated their cultures, languages, and traditions at this time of year. The summer solstice holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for many Indigenous Peoples, marking a time of renewal, connection, and celebration.

• June 23 - International Women in Engineering Day: This day recognizes the achievements of women in engineering, promotes gender diversity in the field, and inspires future generations of female engineers. It serves as a platform to celebrate the contributions of women engineers and encourage their continued participation in STEM fields. 

• June 28 - LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Day: This day is dedicated to LGBTQIA2S+ pride, held on June 28 to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall riots, prior to June becoming Pride month. This initial event was a galvanizing force for LGBTQIA2S+ political activism, and argued by some to be the birth of the gay rights movement, in the United States and around the world.

Until next month... Be well and protect your peace!

---

First published on LinkedIn.