Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan

The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. In the United States, the last Sunday in June was initially celebrated as "Gay Pride Day," but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation, the "day" soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held this month for community members who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally."

Source: The Library of Congress

Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha P. Johnson, born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, was a prominent figure in the gay rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Raised in a working-class, religious African American family, Johnson moved to New York City after high school with just a bag of clothes and $15. Adopting the full name Marsha P. Johnson and her iconic motto, "Pay It No Mind," she became a vital advocate for homeless LGBTQ+ youth and those affected by HIV/AIDS. Johnson faced many hardships, including homelessness, abuse, and mental health challenges, yet remained a joyful and relentless activist. She co-founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) with Sylvia Rivera, providing shelter for transgender youth. Johnson played a significant role in the Stonewall Riots, which ignited the gay rights movement. Despite facing personal struggles, she continued to fight for LGBTQ+ rights until her mysterious death in 1992. Her legacy endures, with monuments, parks, and documentaries honoring her contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.

Summarized by ChatGPT from womenshistory.org