Facts about LGBT

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On June 28, 1970, on the one year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the first Pride marches were held in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Thousands of LGBT+ people gathered to commemorate Stonewall and demonstrate for equal rights. The events of Stonewall and the liberation movements that followed were a direct result of prior decades of LGBT+ activism and organizing. In particular, Pride traditions were adapted from the "Reminder Day Pickets" held annually (1965-1969) on July 4 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) is a term that refers to individuals who identify as non-heterosexual and non-cisgender. While there has been progress in recent years, the LGBT community has historically faced discrimination and marginalization in many parts of the world.

Lesbian individuals are women who are attracted to other women. Gay individuals are men who are attracted to other men. Bisexual individuals are attracted to both men and women. Transgender individuals are those who identify with a gender different from the sex they were assigned at birth.

There are many different ways that members of the LGBT community experience discrimination. One of the most common is through harassment or violence. LGBT individuals are often the targets of hate crimes, and they may face bullying or verbal abuse in schools, workplaces, or other public settings.

In addition to harassment and violence, LGBT individuals may also face discrimination in housing, employment, and healthcare. Many countries still do not have legal protections for LGBT individuals, and those who do may still face discrimination in practice.

Despite the challenges that the LGBT community faces, there has been progress in recent years. Many countries have legalized same-sex marriage, and there has been a growing recognition of the need to protect the rights of LGBT individuals.

In addition to legal protections, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of creating inclusive communities. Many organizations and businesses now have policies in place to ensure that LGBT individuals are treated with respect and dignity.

The concept of Pride has evolved globally over the last 50+ years, but to understand its importance and significance, and continued relevance, we need to honor its roots in the uprising

led by Black and Brown transgender women in 1969 after a police raid on a West Village gay bar, the Stonewall Inn. This watershed moment in history gave way to the modern LGBTQI+ movement, and has stood as a symbol of hope for LGBTQI+ communities worldwide.

However, in many repressive settings—including my home country, Pakicommunitygressive laws have politicized "LGBTQ logy” associated with Western decadence, and which stands in opposition to Russian values.

Since 2013, versions of Russia’s anti-LGBTQ Ilaw have been introduced in legislatures across the region, including Kazakhstan, Armenia, Lithuania, and Belarus.

Russian authorities also used anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric to justify the invasion of Ukraine. In his speech announcing the invasion, Putin cited a supposed attack on “traditional values” by Western powers to partially explain the decision to attack the country. Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, moreover claimed in a March sermon that gay pride parades are sponsored by the West and represent a threat to his and the Kremlin’s notion of Russian identity, and that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was meant to defend against them.

Russian authorities also used anti-LGBTQI+ rhetoric to justify the invasion of Ukraine. In his speech announcing the invasion, Putin cited a supposed attack on “traditional values” by Western powers to partially explain the decision to attack the country. Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, moreover claimed in a March sermon that gay pride parades are sponsored by the West and represent a threat to his and the Kremlin’s notion of Russian identity, and that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was meant to defend against them.