In the aftermath of the Stonewall riots, Walter and Mellor arrived in the US to attend the 1970’s Black Panther’s Revolutionary People’s Convention, where invitations were extended for the first time to representatives from movements for women’s and gay rights.Ī month later, they founded the London branch of the short-lived but massively influential Gay Liberation Front (GLF) in the basement of the London School of Economics with the intention of ‘transforming society and not adapting to it.’ Source: NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project Inspired by what was unfolding in the US, two British activists, Aubrey Walter and Bob Mellor took it upon themselves to vocalise and bring to life the fight for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in the United Kingdom. Word got out of the uprising, and the news spread like wildfire and the first Pride March, which was dubbed the Christopher Street Liberation Day in honour of the Stonewall riots, went ahead on the last Saturday in June with supporters from all over the US convening in New York City to show their support helping cement Stonewall as a cultural icon in the foundation of Pride. On that night in June, patrons of the Stonewall Inn bar in New York City – led by trans women and femmes of colour – fought back against a police raid that establishments such as the Inn would have experienced for years on end. Other incidents include riots and general uprising against the authorities in speak easy’s and clubs such as The Haven in New York, Cooper Donuts and the Black Cat Tavern in Los Angeles, and Compton’s Cafeteria in San Francisco.Īfter years of Police brutality and harassment, small groups of incredibly brave individuals decided they had had enough. However, historians would suggest otherwise.Īrchivists from The Center, an LGBTQ community centre in New York City, explains that the Stonewall Riots was one of many other incidents that took place concurrently across the United States. People tend to believe that the origins of the Gay Liberation Movement were spearheaded by one particular incident on the night of Jknown commonly as the Stonewall Riots. Source: The New York Times Early Days in The US So here is a brief history of pride for all of us, just to know a little bit more about the origins of the historic organisations and legendary individuals who pioneered and spearheaded the gay liberation movement. And as everybody basks in the glory of how far the movement has progressed, there are many of us who are still unaware of the struggles that the LGBTQ+ communities and the movement itself had to endure to get to where it is today. As the rainbow flags wave in the summer sun from balconies and shop windows, you will see the occasional shopper carry a rainbow tote bag to gently remind you that we are firmly in the month of June, where Pride is celebrated globally.