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Pride Month is a celebration of how the LGBTQ+ community has continuously pushed back against oppression, advocating for human rights and freedom of speech. But how did it all begin, and how did it become what it is today?
On June 28, 1969, a series of police raids targeted the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City. Unlike previous raids, this time patrons and local residents fought back, sparking days of protests. The riots ignited a flame in the hearts of the oppressed like never before—all the years of fear and punishment accumulated, leading to a wave of widespread activism. Soon enough, the first organizations advocating for LGBTQ+ rights began to emerge.
This chain of events led to the first Pride March on the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, in 1970, as a tribute to those who fought for equality. The first marches took place in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, making the U.S. the first country to publicly campaign for the human rights of this minority. In 1999, President Bill Clinton officially declared June as "Gay and Lesbian Pride Month," later expanded to include the entire LGBTQ+ community.
So, why do I hate Pride Month? The main reason—and perhaps the only one—is capitalism. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a liberal myself, but Pride Month no longer feels like a movement to spread love and awareness at all. Instead, it has become a shitty excuse to see how many money companies can suck out of us for placing a rainbow on their products, logos, or advertising.
Hell, there's even some organizations financially supporting anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns, yet they slap rainbow branding on everything during Pride Month just to boost their sales under the guise of "spreading awareness." Disney, for example, sells Pride-themed merchandise but has been criticized for reducing LGBTQ+ representation in its films. One example that comes to mind is the cancellation of The Owl House, created by Dana Terrace. The show was widely popular and praised for its LGBTQ+ representation. However, it was canceled not due to poor ratings, but because Disney executives felt it did not fit the Disney brand. This commercialization has become so common that it even has a name: Rainbow Capitalism.
Pride Month has shifted into an over-consumerist bullshit, stripping away its original purpose. I do not stand for this—and neither should you.
Comments
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NozomiKaizoku
This, plus the over fetishization of it to the point where they're actively displaying their kinks infront of young children instead of having a separate adults-only parade made specifically for those kinds of things, and the political polarization to the point where people are actively becoming conservative purely because it's become unbearable to have a conversation about the LGBTQ when everybody's fighting each other over which queer labels are valid and which ones are "setting them back", even though the original movement was only wanting queer people to have the same rights as straight people (it's also why I'm voluntarily detransitioning, I can't stand the people in my own community nowadays), alongside many other reasons.
Lunais_ilo
true, it's already been prominent things of company sucking opportunity on general holiday event (such as christmas or easter) and overshadows it original meaning by manipulate and overgeneralized it's tradition values for the sake of their own profit.
countFagula
unbelievably based thank you holden caulfield from catcher in the rye
JAJASJSAJSHAJHSJA
someone who gets it!
by Holden; ; Report
countFagula
unbelievably based thank you holden caulfield from catcher in the rye
AmeKo
As a queer anarchist, I can understand, I have the same problem. Capitalism always turn real social problematics in a money joke
ange
This is so real.
⋆.♱𐙚𝚅𝚡⋆♱˚࿔
I agree with this thing about pride month being basically about over-consumption. I do understand that people would want merch and stuff because they're proud of their sexuality or gender identity or would like to find peers like them. What's really behind all this marking though is probably just big companies owned by old white conservative homophobic men that couldn't give a f*ck less about LGBTQ+ rights, and just advertise all that stuff for money.
I feel like at least 80% of pride month has been turned into something like valentine's day or Easter. Celebrations just for business.
💽 ༄ ₊ ֹ y͟͟u͟͟r͟͟a͟͟ :p
i wish there was a repost button
pan cake
awkayyyyyy historyyy!!!
WARREN
how are you liberal and anti-capitalist??? do you mean that you're leftist
I never said I'm anti-capitalist. I am a leftist, tho
by Holden; ; Report
Having criticism on a subject matter won't make them to turn against their topic.
by Lunais_ilo; ; Report
bratzilla
you know exactly whats up baby
bratzilla
you know exactly whats up baby
angel 💗
when i read the title i was like “oh great more ragebait” but the preview proved me wrong. and honestly? this blog post describes my exact feelings
Charlie
This is very relatable, so many holidays i loved ended up becoming complete mediocre consumerist bullshit. When you're a kid, you see these things as fun events and celebrations. When you're an adult these holidays are nothing more than a reminder of capitalism
To add, this is why you need to reclaim these holidays for yourself and make them wonderous again
by Charlie; ; Report
Maayan
That's so really everything feels so fake and sponsored not only for pride month, but also for holidays and other "woke" movements. Feels like the big companies take a ride on this to earn more money.
Bill Liam East
Capitalism exploits everything. Art, entertainment, science, education, sports, music, communications, law, your opinions... It's no reason to hate pride month or any other shit.
Yesss finally someone
by Lan3y:3; ; Report
It is, indeed, a valid reason. I stand for a riot, a protest, a cry for the rights we're owed--not for a superficial celebration turned into a $20 kink-themed parade. And this can’t be compared to any holiday. It’s like comparing Black Awareness Month to Christmas, can you see how absurd that is?
by Holden; ; Report
I looked a lot to find a comment like yours
by Lan3y:3; ; Report
I haven't compared anything to anything. I just don't believe something in itself has no value because someone somewhere tries to make money off of it. That will always be true for everything.
So pride month is capitalized now, by corporations that don't care about it even, especially in the face of which administration is in power. So, what, we should just stop trying to send a message entirely and give up because we feel they're ruining it?
by Bill Liam East; ; Report
We should give a different aproach to all of it
by Holden; ; Report
Kiara Ketamine
Right, it feels like every other holiday now. Everything now is "buy all this for this special day/month"
Monkey Mix
I completely agree with your points but personally I wouldn't say I hate pride month. I choose to celebrate pride differently I suppose? I'm a streamer and I try to play pretty inclusionary games and talk about pride stuff to try and keep bringing awareness to it. Instead of playing Big games, I'm more inclined to play indie games and stuff. I personally do what I can to show pride and spread the awareness without giving into a lot, if any, rainbow capitalism
It kinda was click-bait xd
by Holden; ; Report
SackBoy!!
Yeah it looks like an occasion to be gay. Imagine being gay from 1-30 june and not getting bullied and the first of july everyone can insult you. I hate it too
✧*̥˚ minnapixl *̥˚✧
you hate one aspect of pride month, not the movement itself. could use some clarity
It’s not just one aspect--capitalism has diluted Pride Month, turningg it from a riot into a celebration, a celebration to make money.
by Holden; ; Report