Clip of the Week: Reclaiming Pride

For decades, being an LGTBQ+ member meant you had a mental disorder that needed to be taken care of. Lobotomies, electroshock therapy, and conversion therapy became common treatments that claimed to “cure” homosexuality. In the mid 20th century, tv shows and documentaries would stereotype the LGBT community and spread inaccurate facts that would increase tension and division in all parties. At the time, there were no official safe spaces for the gay communities because of fear that homosexuality was contagious. These homophobic ideoligies pushed members of the LGBTQ+ communities to create their own safer spaces in the back of trucks and at bars such as the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. Despite the effort of claiming their territory, this did not grant them complete security.

On Saturday, June 28, 1969, police officers arrived and raided the Stonewall Inn bar. LGBTQ+ members had had enough, and fought back for 6 days straight. This chain of events is now known as the Stonewall Riots and the beginning of the Gay Liberation movement. Every June for the past 49 years has been dedicated to celebrating the Stonewall anniversary with huge parades, but now, advocates fear the current celebrations are nothing but a big party that not only lacks diversity, but does not fully honor the original 1970 pride march.

Watch Reclaiming Pride, as thirteen Reclaim Pride Coalition members share their first pride experiences, explain their opposition to the current corporate-dominated pride parade, and how they plan to restore a human rights agenda to Pride Day with the Queer Liberation March on Sunday, June 30th.