LGBTQ+ Pride Month is dedicated to celebration and commemoration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride. Pride Month began after the Stonewall riots, a series of gay liberation protests that began in response to a police raid on June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City.

On the anniversary of the uprising a year later, the first gay pride marches took place in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Within a few years, gay rights organizations were founded across the United States and around the world. Today, LGBTQ+ Pride events are held annually worldwide in June in honor of the Stonewall riots.

In celebration of Pride Month, Williams & Connolly asked Associate Brett Ries and others to reflect on their LGBTQ+ identity and the importance of this month being more widely observed. Keep a lookout for more reflections posted throughout the month of June.

“Pride Month is a time for celebration and education. LGBTQ+ history has largely been left out of history books—and, still today, some are trying to keep it that way. Despite our progress, hate and bias against the LGBTQ+ community is at an alarming high. Pride Month gives us a moment to celebrate the progress we have made and to reflect on the current state of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. The values that drive this movement—those of love and acceptance—transcend the LGBTQ+ community. No one should have to fear for their safety because of who they are or who they love. Each June is an opportunity to reaffirm that these values should be embraced, not feared.”

- Brett Ries, Associate