It was an act of defiance. Unlike anything before we fought back, many know the Stonewall riots in New York City ignited the start of Pride Month but how did other cities get their start? America's first pride parade takes us to 1970 in New York City called the Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day. The march was held to commemorate the stonewall riots which was held one year prior in June, 1969 thousands protested for six days after police raided *** popular gay bar called the Stonewall Inn, *** public act of resistance with *** force. Unlike anything before we fought back and we beat the police, they drove off, they fled, the community was fed up with constant police harassment and discrimination. Ultimately, the events revolutionized LGBTQ activism in the US, shaping it to what it is today. It ignited *** chain reaction with gay pride marches popping up across the country from New York to Chicago and L ***, right? Similar to how New York's pride began by an act of resistance. Sacramento California's first pride was in response to *** police raid on the upstairs downstairs gay disco in March of 1979 over 500 people marched across midtown as an act of protest and pride on the east coast. Boston held its first official pride parade in 1971 with 300 people marching through the city. They stopped at Jack's cabaret, the city's police headquarters, the state house and Saint Paul's Cathedral to address misogyny, police harassment, legal discrimination and religious persecution in the South Oklahoma City started with small gay pride celebrations in the 19 seventies, its first official parade however, was in 1987 with *** few 100 people in attendance. It began as *** way to increase gay visibility and address issues like discrimination and the HIV AIDS epidemic. Orlando's first pride parade began in 1991 with *** small rally around Lake Eola with over 500 people attending the same year, an event known as Gay Day began where the community was encouraged to wear red while visiting popular theme parks. The one day park visit has turned into an annual week long celebration beyond the vibrant rainbow flags and outfits, parties and parades Pride Month at its core reminds us of the courageous spirit the members of the LGBT Q plus community had during the stonewall riots. Recalling this history inspires *** new generation to continue the fight for equality and respect because what our community needs now more than ever is unity, to speak out against hateful political agendas and ideology to embrace those who have been targeted for scorn ridicule and legislative assault and to provide visibility and presence for our community in order to not just survive but for us to continue to thrive.