Pride Month: A March, Not a Parade – Remembering the Roots of LGBTQ+ Activism

Pride Month: Remembering the Roots New York City, June 2025 - Filmmaker Brenna Pérez recently shared a powerful story highlighting the evolution of Pride celebrations. While creating short documentaries for corporate sponsors, Pérez interviewed Hal and John, a couple who actively participated in LGBTQ+ activism during the AIDS crisis in 1980s New York. Their perspective dramatically changed Pérez's understanding of Pride. "They were very precise about their language," Pérez explains. "They emphasized that it was a march, not a parade, because it started as a riot." This statement underscores the event's origins as a protest against police brutality and discrimination. Hal and John's account provides a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community during this period. Their words offer a crucial historical context for contemporary Pride celebrations, highlighting the significance of remembering the fight for equality. Their story serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights and the importance of understanding the history behind the celebrations.