All over the world, June marks an annual celebration of Pride Month promoting dignity, equality, and increased visibility for LGBTQ individuals. Pride gatherings include everything from parades and rallies to parties and concerts, and each of these events are grounded in the LGBTQ community’s struggle to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who they are.

According to the Library of Congress, the original organizers of Pride Month chose this month to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, a tipping point for the gay liberation movement in the United States. In 2016, the area around the Stonewall Inn was designated a national monument. The first Pride event was a 1970 parade in New York City, with celebrations growing each year to recognize the impact LGBTQ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. Many Texas cities hold their annual Pride celebrations in June.

Pride movements have grown along with recognition that visibility is key to inclusivity and helping LGBT individuals, especially youth, feel a sense of community and belonging. Supportive, positive environments are key to ensuring LGBTQ youth can thrive. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a list of resources from various agencies and organizations to help LGBTQ youth and their friends, family, educators, etc., find the support they need.

ATPE members interested in learning more about supporting LGBTQ youth can check out the online ATPE Professional Learning Portal course “SXSW EDU 2021: It Gets Better with LGBTQ+ Youth Voices.” In this continuing professional education (CPE) course, a group of youth ambassadors from the It Gets Better Project share their perspectives, insights, and ideas on how to make schools safer and more inclusive for all students. “Inclusivity matters,” wrote member K.Z. “[It was a] good course for some helpful tips on how educators can stage their classrooms to provide a safe place for all students.”

In addition, check out these Pride Month resources to learn more about LGBTQ history and youth outreach efforts:

• A list of resources from GLAAD
• Educational resources from the Anti-Defamation League
• The Human Rights Campaign’s list of Pride Month resources, playlists, fun activities, and more
• A variety of PBS Pride Month specials
• An assortment of articles from Edutopia, including how to support LGBTQ elementary students, ways to incorporate LGBTQ content in history lessons, how to support LGBTQ students who may not feel accepted at home, and ways other educators can better support LGBTQ teachers of color
• A compilation of information from the Library of Congress
• Educator and student resources from GLSEN, a national group of educators advocating for LGBTQ youth