Choice is not binary.

People typically associate Pride Month with the Stonewall Uprising. In fact, the first Gay Pride Parade, originally called the Christopher Street Gay Liberation March, took place on June 28, 1970 — one year following the events of Stonewall. With that being said, the gay rights movement did begin before Stonewall happened. Stonewall acted as a springboard for LGBTQ+ activism, ultimately leading to the inception of numerous gay rights organizations like GLAAD, PFLAG, and The Gay Liberation Front.

What ultimately led to the Stonewall uprising was a combination of things. Police raided The Stonewall Inn, roughed up patrons, and arrested 13 people — including employees — for "violating the state's gender appropriate clothing statute." In 1969, it was illegal to wear clothing deemed "inappropriate for your gender." Police officers even took patrons suspected of "cross-dressing" to the bathroom to physically check their sex. The anguish sparked by back-to-back raids acted as kerosine to an already smoldering fire.

The Stonewall Uprising's aftermath led to increased awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and increased activism. There are a few notable figures closely associated with the Stonewall Riots — and the Gay Pride Movement overall.

Stormé DeLarverie

Stormé was born in New Orleans. She worked as a bouncer for multiple lesbian bars in NYC during the 80s and 90s. She was present at the Stonewall Riots and was rumored to have been the first one to throw a punch. She was a groundbreaking drag performer, often wearing zoot suits and black ties for her drag king persona. Following Stonewall, she became a community street patrol volunteer and held a leadership position in the Stonewall Veterans Association. She was often referred to as "The Guardian of the Lesbians in the Village."

Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha hailed from New Jersey, moving to New York in the 1960s. She was a key member of the city's drag community, a founding member of The Gay Liberation Front, and a prominent figure at the riots. Following Stonewall, she was an extremely active advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Marsha worked with ACT UP for AIDS activism; she also founded STAR (Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries). She modeled for Andy Warhol and was called the "Mayor of Christopher Street" for being such a welcoming figure in Greenwich Village.

Miss Major Griffin-Gracy

Miss Major Griffin-Gracy was born in Chicago and was a leading presence at the Stonewall Uprising. She was kicked out of two colleges for the outward expression of her identity and is formerly the long-time executive director of the San Francisco-based Transgender Gender-Variant Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP), which advocates for Trans women of color in and outside of prison. She is a survivor of Attica State Prison and has received numerous awards for her 50+ years of activism for the trans community.

Sylvia Rivera

Sylvia was born in Bronx, New York and was close friends with Marsha P. Johnson. Together, they co-founded The Gay Liberation Front. Sylvia acted as a house mother for STAR House, an organization that provided lodging, clothing, and food to homeless transgender youth. In 1994 she was honored at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Stonewall Riots.

Choose to be the change

These are just a small handful of the thousands of people who have advocated — and continue to advocate — for the LGBTQ+ community. The Stonewall Uprising helped light a fire under the Gay Rights Movement, but it's the activists who continue to do the work, day in and day out, who are the real change-makers.

There's still a lot of work to be done. Instead of just showing support by flying a rainbow flag during Pride Month, make the choice to really get involved if you aren't already. Advocate for kindness and inclusion, even when it means having an uncomfortable conversation. Take action in your local community by advocating, or voting, for inclusive policies. Stay informed. Whatever you do, just do something. Make your voice heard.