LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Indiana
While members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their supporters have celebrated several important legal victories in recent years (such as the right to marry), there is still work to be done to create true equality. In the meantime, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft offer suggestions for celebrating LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Indiana this June.
History of LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
LGBTQIA+ History Month is celebrated every October while LGBTQIA+ Pride Month takes place each June across the world. LGBTQIA+ Pride Month honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. In fact, the first Pride march in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Initially, the last Sunday in June was celebrated as “Gay Pride Day,” but the actual day was flexible. In major cities across the nation the “day” soon grew to encompass a month-long series of events. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the local, national, and international impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history.
In 1994, a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (October 11), as well as the first “March on Washington” in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ community during LGBT History Month.
How to Celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Indiana
Whether you simply want to be subtly supportive or jump into the middle of the celebration, there are an endless number of ways to get involved in LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Indiana. The annual Indy Pride Parade includes well over 140 floats, vehicles, and walking groups, and lasts almost two hours. It has become one of the largest parades in Indianapolis and is “a testament to the hard work of the community to ensure our equality and celebrate Pride.”
Other ways to get involved in LGBTQIA+ Pride month include:
- Learn. Learn more about the history of the LGBTQIA+ community and the struggles they have faced.
- Decorate. Surround yourself with Pride gear by decorating your home with Pride-themed decor. Proudly hang a rainbow flag in your front yard and windows.
- Attend. Attend a Pride parade or a local event scheduled during Pride Month.
- Donate. Make a financial contribution to a local, state, or national organization that supports the LGBTQIA+ community. Use Charity Navigator to find a reputable charity.
- Advocate. While you may do this all year long, make a point of advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights during the month of June.
Contact Indianapolis Estate Planning Attorneys
For more information, please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you have additional questions or concerns regarding how to incorporate LBGTQIA+ planning into your comprehensive estate plan, contact the experienced Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft by calling (317) 684-1100 to schedule an appointment.
Paul Kraft is Co-Founder and the senior Principal of Frank & Kraft, one of the leading law firms in Indiana in the area of estate planning as well as business and tax planning.
Mr. Kraft assists clients primarily in the areas of estate planning and administration, Medicaid planning, federal and state taxation, real estate and corporate law, bringing the added perspective of an accounting background to his work.
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