16 LGBTQ Activists You Should Know
Activists have long been at the forefront of creating change for LGBTQ people. Over the years, these trailblazers have helped moved the needle on gay and transgender rights, influencing laws and attitudes. Early pioneers in the gay liberation movement, such as Audre Lorde and Harvey Milk, paved the way for modern activists, like Elliot Page, to take up the mantle and continue to push for equality.
To celebrate Pride Month in June, here are some of the most prominent LGBTQ activists, both past and present.TKEdith 'Edie' WindsorBest known for his contributions to civil rights movement, Bayard Rustin also became involved in the gay liberation movement later in his life.National Gay Task ForceTKtkPoetPlaywright and ACT UP
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Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Springfield shows off its Pride at parade
SPRINGFIELD — Feathers, glitter, pride flags and festive looks filled the Springfield Technical Community College parking lot Saturday as the rain trickled down, accompanied by the thump of drums playing in the distance. The fourth annual Springfield Pride Parade was led by the families the parade organization serves through its Safe Space Program. 'Show up as who you are and not who you're not,' said a Springfield Public fifth-grade student, Darya Kahab, who has supported the parade for all four years. With a rainbow flag painted on her cheek, she smiled, thinking about how many people would come out to support this year's parade. Despite the rain and cloudy sky, supporters still gathered around festively, ready to begin their mile walk from STCC down to Springfield City Hall. MGM Springfield had a float designed with metallic fringe garlands, rainbow magnets, flags and handwritten hearts with notes that read, 'Love Wins!' Julianne Surrette, one of the supporters in the truck, shared that their theme for the truck this year was 'sparkle and shimmer.' 'Our message behind it is to be yourself and to love yourself 100% all the time.' Director of philanthropy and community engagement at MGM Springfield, Jennifer McGrath, said, 'It's an absolute honor to walk side by side with people who celebrate the beauty of this world that makes us different. We've participated every year since its infancy and will continue going strong.' Taurean Bethea, founder of the Springfield Pride Parade Committee, said that the You Ball Gala and Pride Parade are held to support the Safe Space Program, which is currently in place in six Springfield Public Schools. The program offers year-round support for LGBTQIA+ youth in Springfield, combining the opportunities of summer and after-school programming with ongoing support. Designed for students in grades 6-12, the program aims to build community, fosterg leadership and nurture resilience, creating a safe and supportive environment to support every student to thrive emotionally, socially and academically. 'We need to be a lot louder and reach more of the youth and LGBTQIA community. Our goal this year is to be loud and proud and bring back the essence of what pride is,' said Bethea. Caicy Welz, a Springfield educator and member of the Springfield Education Association, marched with the Massachusetts Teachers Association. She shared that she felt a sense of contagious happiness from the crowd while waiting to begin. As a lifelong Springfield resident and teacher in the city, it feels great to come out and support the LGBTQIA+ community. 'My goal has always been inclusivity in my classes, school and district as a whole. Having students be able to see themselves reflected and see that their teachers support and validate them,' Welz said. Anyone looking to support the Safe Space Programs can do so by visiting their website at Mass. casino winner: Table game player wins thousands of dollars Mural pays tribute to Malcolm X and his Springfield legacy Mass. casino winner: $2.50 bet won gambler jackpot prize WTA celebrates graduating Class of 2025 Springfield Pride headliner Dawn Richard told 'Diddy' jurors of threats, violence, abuse Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Photos: Sixth annual Schuylkill PrideFest takes place at the fairgrounds
The annual Schuylkill PrideFest took place Saturday afternoon at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds. Attendees could browse the various vendors, enjoy performances and learn some queer history at the Stonewall exhibit. Scroll down for photos from the event. READ MORE: Schuylkill PrideFest brings people together Morgan Morgan Morgan performs during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Folks check out the Stonewall exhibit during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Smore walks into the event with wings spread during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Elliot Strange, from Pottsville, gets ready for the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Elliot Strange, from Pottsville, gets ready for the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Dennis Landon, with Fair Districts PA, produces a large bubble during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Tawny Clark, right, takes a photo of Jenn Brothers, left, during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)The crowd watches a drag performance during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Danyel Vasquez, of Ohio, performs during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Vindicticia F. Glamour, of Bloomsburg, performs during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Rose McDonald strikes a pose during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Morgan Morgan Morgan accepts a tip during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Duncan MacLean, with Fair Districts PA, dresses as Sen. David Argall who the group hopes can 'slay the dragon of gerrymandering' during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Felicia Rondajambe, of Reading, performs during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Morgan Morgan Morgan dances amongst the crowd during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)Bri Rogers, left, and Jaden Ebert, right, watch a drag performance during the annual Schuylkill PrideFest held at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Saturday, June 7, 2025. (MATTHEW PERSCHALL/MULTIMEDIA EDITOR)
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Cloudy skies can't dim joy as thousands fill nation's capital for World Pride parade
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gray skies and drizzle gave way to sunshine, multicolored flags and celebrations as the nation's capital held the World Pride parade Saturday. Tens of thousands of people participated in parades and other festivities, in defiance of what activists say is an unprecedented assault on the LGBTQ+ community that challenges the rights many have fought for over the years. A rainbow flag the length of three football fields flowed through the streets, carried by 500 members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C., to kick off the parade. Behind them, people waved Pride flags and flags representing the transgender, asexual and bisexual communities from atop a bus. Singer-songwriter and actor Reneé Rapp laughed and blew kisses from the back of a pickup truck draped with a transgender flag while Laverne Cox, a transgender actress and activist known for her role in Netflix's 'Orange is the New Black,' waved from an open convertible. 'Pride means us looking out for each other no matter what,' she declared to the crowd as the convertible rolled to a stop. 'We know how to be there for each other.' Many LGBTQ+ travelers have expressed concerns or decided to skip World Pride due to anxieties about safety, border policies and a hostile political climate that they say hearkens back to another time . But that did not keep international travelers and other participants away, with groups visible from Iran, Namibia, Kenya and Russia. Along the parade route, hundreds gathered outside the National City Christian Church as rainbow flags and balloons lined its steps and columns. A child with rainbow face paint blew bubbles at the base of the steps while Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' blared from loudspeakers.' 'D.C. is already one of the biggest cities in the country for celebrating Pride,' said Cheo White, 33, from Annapolis, Maryland, 'But we are all collectively more united and turning out more because of what's happening in the White House.' Many have said the gathering has taken on a new meaning amid the Trump administration's aggressive policies against protections for transgender Americans and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. White's partner, Nick Kerver, 26, who was visiting from Toledo, Ohio, said Pride has 'always been a political tool' but has taken on more importance this year amid mounting threats to the LGBTQ+ community, especially transgender and nonbinary Americans.' 'It feels more important than ever,' Kerver said while wearing a rainbow hat, sunglasses and a T-shirt. 'But we also have to get involved in our local communities too.' David Begler, a 58-year-old gay man from Philadelphia, expressed disappointment that many international travelers felt unsafe visiting D.C. for World Pride but said he appreciates its presence in the city during this political climate. 'It's the perfect time to have World Pride in D.C.,' Begler said. 'We need it right now. I want us to send a message to the White House to focus on uplifting each other instead of dividing.' Stay DeRoux, 36, usually plans a day trip to D.C. Pride from her home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. But this year, she and her wife, Deenie DeRoux, planned a full weekend. ''This is a really big year,' Stay DeRoux said. 'There's been a lot of turmoil. So it's an amazing thing to be among allies, among people who love because we've experienced so much hate on a daily basis.' For the day, the idea of threats and opposition took a backseat to the celebration. Streets were closed, but filled with floats, and impromptu parties broke out with music and food in streets adjoining the parade route. Johnny Cervantes Jr., dressed in a black suit and top hat, headed to a grandstand at a church themed float to marry his partner of 28 years, Freddie Lutz, owner of Freddie's Beach Bar and Restaurant in Arlington, Virginia. Events culminate tomorrow with a rally and protest March Sunday and a giant street party and concert covering a multi-block stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue. 'This is World Pride in the best city in the world,' Mayor Muriel Bowser declared as she walked the parade hand-in-hand with her daughter, Miranda. ___
