LGBTQ Pride Month is commemorated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City. In June of 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn staged an uprising to resist the police harassment and persecution to which LGBTQ Americans were commonly subjected. This uprising marked the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ Americans. Today, LGBTQ Pride Month celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, attracting millions of participants around the world.
In schools and classrooms, LGBTQ Pride Month is an excellent time to talk with students about LGBTQ people and their struggles to achieve equity and justice in all aspects of their lives. It is an opportunity to learn about iimportant LGBTQ people in history, read literature that features LGBTQ people, analyze heterosexism and explore its causes and solutions. As with other similarly themed months, it is important not to isolate the exploration of LGBTQ people and culture into one month during the year. LGBTQ history is U.S. history and should be integrated into the curriculum throughout the school year.
Below is a list of relevant K-12 curriculum, children’s books and other resources to bring LGBTQ Pride Month to your schools and classrooms.
