This month at Beanfield we are celebrating Pride and all of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Pride we know today was almost unimaginable 50 years ago with the initial movement originally stemming from the overwhelming unacceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in society at the time. To fully appreciate the trials and tribulations of the LGBTQ+ community, we have been taking time to learn and reflect on the long history of the fight for equal rights. The Stonewall riots are widely considered to have played a major role in sparking the Pride movement across the world for decades to come. In 1969, when The Stonewall Inn opened its doors, New York City was notorious for strictly enforcing anti-homosexual laws that were in place, which made it risky for gay people to gather in public.
In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969 a police raid took place at the Stonewall Inn. This police raid sparked 6 days of riots, bringing thousands of people together to stand up for the gay rights movement which had been gaining momentum throughout the late 60’s. Some of the earliest activists involved in the Stonewall riots were Black and Brown queer and trans women like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major, and Storme DeLaverie who became important trailblazers during the movement.
After the riots, the movement continued to gain traction and one year after the Stonewall riots on June 28, 1970, thousands gathered in Greenwich for the first Christopher Street Liberation Day march. This march became an annual event, eventually evolving into the Pride parade which is now celebrated in cities all over the world. The collective action of the uprising has paved the way for millions of members of the LGBTQ+ community to be able to celebrate their identities.
Since the beginning of Beanfield, we have strived to create a company culture in which we welcome and support everyone, no matter their gender expression, gender identity, or sexual orientation. As we continue to evolve, we are committed to learning and doing better to support this community. This year we’ll be making donations to organizations in Toronto and Montreal that work to improve the lives of the LGBTQ+ community. We’ll spotlight those organizations and the life changing work they do in a later blog.
Like the marchers who came before us, we have always had a blast marching in the Toronto Pride Parade and we were so excited to march in our first Montreal pride. Check out our 2018 & 2019 Toronto Pride recap videos:
Although there may not be a physical parade this year, we will all be marching in spirit and supporting the LBGTQ+ community for the remainder of Pride month and every other month of the year!
