Celebrating Pride

A Brief History: How can one feel safe when a community is targeted by raids? This is one of many questions that members of the LGBTQIA+ community asked in mid-century America, and one that Meg Metcalf explored in a web article for the Library of Congress titled “The History of Pride: How Activists Fought to Create LGBTQ Pride.”, opens a new window

Fifty-five years ago, a group of people of various races, genders, and ages asked this same question as their community came under attack. They spontaneously decided to fight back against a police raid at a bar frequented by gay people. This resistance led to a multi-day rebellion known as The Stonewall Uprising, opens a new window. 

The events that took place on June 28, 1969 were celebrated one year later by a multitude of groups who joined together in hopes for a world in which everyone would be free to belong. Organizers succeeded in implementing a series of marches for gay rights in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Since then, communities the world over have chosen to use June to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, rejecting hatred and shame and embracing love and Pride.

Featured Programs:

LGBTQIA+ History Talk, opens a new window, New Lebanon Branch, opens a new window, Thursday, June 6, 6 - 7:30 pm: Discuss the history of LGBTQIA+. (Adults)

Pride Day, opens a new window, Trotwood Branch, opens a new window, Wednesday, June 12, 9:30 am - 6 pm: Fun activities will take place all day. (All Ages)

Two Hillbillies and a Queered Conversation, opens a new window, Miami Township Branch, opens a new window, Tuesday, June 18, 7 - 8 pm (Adults)

DML Pride!, opens a new window, Main Library, opens a new window, Eichelberger Forum and the Atrium, Friday, June 28, 6:30 - 9 pm: Enjoy a movie screening of Pride (Rated R, 2014) (Adults)

You can find a full list of our Pride programs in our calendar.

Resources

Looking for something LGBTQIA+-related to read? Check out a staff-curated list, opens a new window of titles that DML recently cataloged!

Additionally, DML has a web page dedicated to Pride resources for all ages. Here, opens a new window, you'll find community resources and more recommend reads

For those interested in researching and studying the topics of sexuality and gender, DML's free database, Archives of Sexuality and Gender, opens a new window, powered by Gale, would be ideal.

It provides a robust and significant collection of primary sources for the historical study of sex, sexuality, and gender with material dating back to the 16th century!