On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, arresting those associated with the LGBTQ+ community. Instead of backing down, as they did in previous raids, the people resisted, marking the beginning of a new era. The first Pride march in the US took place a year after this riot, creating the beginning of a long tradition of celebrating LGBTQ+ rights.
Every July, cities around the world celebrate and honor the meaning behind Pride Month, remembering the events at Stonewall Inn which led to today’s celebrations. Oregon, known for its progressive stance on LGBTQ+ rights, holds many events in honor of this tradition. The Portland Pride Waterfront Festival will take place July 19-20, one of the largest donation-based Pride events on the West Coast.
English teacher Kristin Cwirla, the GSA advisor for TuHS, spoke about the importance of this club and the significance of Pride Month.
“I think GSA is a small but mighty community. We’re a place in which queer students and their allies are able to get together and really find a sense of home and a sense of place in an otherwise pretty hectic, chaotic place,” Cwirla said. “We are a very large school, so having a much smaller space where people can gather together and talk and share common interests is a really welcoming place to be, and I think Pride Month basically takes that sense of community and it also adds on a flavor of celebration.”
Due to the recent political debates around the LGBTQ+ community, Cwirla expressed how 2025 is an important year to celebrate.
“I look at the amount of large corporations pulling out of Pride. I look at what the federal administration is doing with regard to pulling out of DEI (Department of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). And I think that the more that we can show up for each other in times like these, the better,” Cwirla said. “So I do believe that Pride is incredibly important this year because it is a way that we can visibly show up for each other.”
Pride Month continues to be an important time to support the LGBTQ+ community, reflect on its history and appreciate the unity and visibility of those within it.
