1 month and 4 days to go. Get ready to wave your rainbow flags!
Happy Pride Month and Day to you! Are you ready to dive in the history and traditions of this festivity? Before discovering more about the milestones related to the most important event for the LGBTIQ+ community, when is pride month? It occurs in June and it continues for a whole month, weekend or week, depending on the area. Did you know that Prid...
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Pride flag
This fabulous collection of pride flag images are an excellent choice to embrace a proud stance on the subject of equality for all. In any case, these high-resolution images will heighten the quality of your work in all aspects of design.
Rainbow
A full spectrum of rainbow photos are ready to bring your projects to life, embracing the colors of diversity and equality for all. These high quality images will help deliver fantastic results, increasing engagement and spreading your valuable message.
LGBTQ
Pride month is about love and diversity. Celebrate this festivity, download and use these colorful photos of rainbow flags, people belonging to the lgtbq community, gender symbols, and many other concepts. Feel the power of love!
Pride parade
Pride Parades are celebrations of acceptance, love, and equality. It's a time for individuals of all walks of life to come together and express themselves with joy and enthusiasm. These photos capture the spirit and vibrancy of Pride.
Pride wallpaper
There is no better way of celebrating Pride Day than using some wallpapers for your phone, computer, tablet, and even for your social media account. You’ll find many designs with motifs like love, hearts, rainbows, flowers…
Pride banner
Do you need some Pride Month and Day banners? Find the most outstanding designs in our collections. Explain the history of this festivity, let other people know about the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community, or promote mutual comprehension using these banners.
Pride stickers
This June, show your pride in style with these incredible Pride stickers. With their elegant design and vibrant colors, these stickers will make a statement wherever you go. And with a variety of options to choose from, you can find the perfect one for you.
Pride background
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Symbols
Pride flags
Gender symbols
Hearts
Pride quotes
The LGBT community has been represented using different symbols. During the Nazi regime, a pink triangle was a way to identify and oppress people belonging to this community, although it turned into a freedom emblem later. By the late 70s, there was a need to create a new flag, a new symbol to represent the LGBT social movements. Artists and activists Gilbert Baker, Lynn Segerblom, and James McNamara, among others, created the first version of the rainbow flag in 1978. Baker was in charge of its design, and he got inspiration from the Hippie movement, the flag of races, and even a Rolling Stones’ song, “She’s a Rainbow”. More and more variants of the flag appeared over the years, varying the number of stripes, colors, shapes… Together with these variations, the rainbow flag inspired many other banners, as the pansexual pride flag, the transgerder pride flags, or the bisexual pride flags.
Today, we use three main gender symbols, plus some variations. Traditionally, ♀ indicates female, ♂ means male, and ⚥ denotes hermaphroditism. But what’s the history behind them? Using gender symbols is not a new thing, they were already employed during the 18th century. Carl Linnaeus, one of the most famous botanists and physicians in the World, used those three to let readers know which flowers were male, female, or perfect flowers (i.e.,bisexual.) Nowadays, the male and the female symbols are widely used, but there are some combinations that are key too. They are some mainly mixings of those two: ⚥ stands for bisexual, ⚦ represent ther transgender community, ⚢ has to do with the lesbians, ⚣ is the emblen for the gay male community, and ⚧ symbolize gender inclusivity.
Hearts symbolize love in many, many cultures. Nevertheless, this ideograph has not always expressed such a beautiful meaning. It was during the late Middle Ages when it became popular as a love token. More and more hearts appeared in manuscript decorations, paintings, and even playing cards dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. Although there are many hypotheses on the origins of this connection, it’s not clear. One way or the other, hearts symbolize love nowadays, and it also applies to the LGBT community. In their case, they usually merge hearts with the pride flag, creating a unique emblem.
There is no doubt, quotations are part of pride symbolism. When Pride Day approaches, we read “love is love” everywhere. Quotes are a great way to encourage values like understanding, respect, and sympathy. They are also helpful in keeping communities together or to make people feel empowered. “Pride for everyone”, “we’re here. We’re queer”, or “the future is trans” are just a few examples. Music has also influenced the LGBT arena. There are many lyrics that have become powerful pride quotations, like “born this way” (Lady Gaga), “I see your true colors shining through” (Cyndi Lauper). Likewise, people like RuPaul (a famous drag queen) have turned his quotation into a Pride anthem: “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag”.
Few colors denote as much passion as red does, and few reds are as strong as Spanish Carmine. Shades of red convey love, joy and warmth of hearts. We use red when we want to communicate a strong feeling, but within the context of Pride day, red means life. The colors of the Pride flag have been chosen with care and knowledge, also thinking about the final result that we know today which is the rainbow flag. It is one of the colors that stand out the most on Gay Pride day, but because in addition to being one of those colors that catch the eye, they represent the love and life of a collective that has fought and will fight to live free.
The history of pride is simply fascinating. It all started with a series of riots, the Stonewall uprising, in a pub in lower Manhattan in 1969. This moment was so pivotal that it led to an annual commemoration that transformed into the first pride parades. These first parades took place simultaneously in two cities, Chicago and San Francisco. Another milestone was the creation of the rainbow flag by Gilbert Baker, an activist. He designed this emblem looking for inspiration in several things like social movements, music, and the Flag of Races. But the LGBT movement didn’t stop there: the most contemporary event has to do with Bill Clinton and his touching proclamation 7203, signed in 1999. Learn about more Pride Month facts and the mesmerizing history of love!
One of the first steps to promote rights for the LGBT community
The 60s were a flourishing period for diversity, but not for all the communities. The American LGBT circle was struggling at the time. Although they gained some rights like drinking at pubs and bars, constant police raids created an unwelcoming environment for bixesuals, gays, lesbians, and transexuals. One of the most well-known raids took place on June 28th, 1969. It is known as the Stonewall riots or Stonewall uprising, as it occurred at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village (Lower Manhattan, New York.) It quickly turned into a protest and the police lost control. Activists and residents gathered not only that night, but also the following ones, to fight for their rights, no matter their sexual orientation.
The commemoration of the Stonewall riots
Chicago Gay liberation held a march to commemorate the Stonewall riots a year after the event, in June 1970. It was organized by activists such as Brenda Howard. They went from the Civic Center Plaza to Washington Square, an action that was also repeated in other parts of the country. In San Francisco, they protested marching and having a “gay-in” picnic. The participants repeated mottos like “gay is okay” to get the attention of the rest of the citizens and as a way of raising awareness. These demonstrations included speeches and many other social gatherings. This first Pride Parade laid the foundations for future LGBT movements.
The most widespread LGBT symbol in the World
The famous rainbow flag was created in 1978. It was designed as a powerful tool to raise awareness and to make the members of the community feel that they were part of a great social movement. The designing process of the rainbow flag was one of the milestones of the history of Pride. Gilbert Baker, an activist, devised it. He got inspiration from the Hippie movement, the Flag of Races and a song by the Rolling Stones, “She’s a Rainbow.” This very first version of the flag contained eight colors, and each had its own meaning: hot pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, indigo, and violet.
The official recognition of Pride Month in the US
Bill Clinton played a very influential role in the fight for LGBT rights. Decades after the Stonewall Riots, president Bill Clinton signed proclamation 7203 in 1999. He established the Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in June, as a way of highlighting the importance of the 1969 riots and the 1970 parade, both taking place in June. Proclamation 7203 emphasizes the importance of respecting every single person, the need for eradicating hate crimes, and the prohibition of sexual harassment. This proclamation was also backed by an executive order from 1998 that banned discrimination in the Federal civilian work force.
Pride is becoming a global celebration, so you’ll find parades and parties in many, many countries. Each place gives its own queer touch to this colorful date, but it’s always based on equal rights and respect. Learn more on Pride Day and get an answer to questions like: where is the biggest Pride celebration? Do they set off fireworks in NYC at Pride parades?
Pride in the United States: celebrations in Los Angeles, New York City, Washington DC and San Francisco. The Stonewall Riots happened in the United States, as you may know. This has led to major LGBT events around the country. In Los Angeles, they celebrate Pride Day with a huge parade, music events, and even with some circus nights. For its part, the LGTB Pride March in New York is one of the well-known LGBT community events–they also set off some fireworks! Of course, there are other events during NYC pride such as Fantasy Days, Pride Island, Youth Pride, and many conferences. Washington DC also offers several entertaining activities! Have fun at Capital Pride Rooftop Pool Party, attend the Official Opening Party, take part in the parade, or pay homage to important activists at the Capital Pride Honor. Are you going to miss it? San Francisco Pride is another major event in the United States. It’s very well-known for its parade and festival. They last two days and they take place during the last full weekend of June. The parade gathers different contingents. Among the most famous ones, you’ll find Dykes on Bikes, leather and BDSM groups, or LGBT-affirming religious groups, Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG.)
Tel Aviv Pride, celebrating Gay Pride Month in Israel. There wasn’t a Tel Avid Pride parade until 1993, because homosexuality was banned in Israel until 1988. Still, some protest against discrimination took place in 1979, which can be seen as the first Pride event in Tel Aviv. The queer community has gained many rights over the years and, today, it’s considered one of the most gay-friendyy places in the World. As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate Pride. Apart from the parade, you can attend and enjoy the afterparty, concerts… You can even find water parks hosting LGBT parties! Have a look at celebrations like “It’s Britney” or “Tel a Beef,” you’ll be completely delighted. If you are interested in drag queen performances, then Wigstock is your cup of tea. There will be drag queens, glitter, djs, and tons of colors.
São Paulo LGBTQ Pride Parade (Parada do Orgulho LGBTQ de São Paulo). For many years, the São Paulo LGBTQ Pride Parade has been listed as the biggest pride parade in the World for many years. It gathers three to five million attendees annually, but why is Pride Month and Day so much anticipated in Brazil? The most important activity during São Paulo Gay Pride is the mesmerizing parade. You’ll enjoy the great trio electricos (floats) together with rainbow flags and many other decorations. It takes place on the Sunday after Corpus Christi, in June. During five days, many other activities are offered to the general public, although there are many events occurring three weeks before the parade! There are street markets, plays, concerts, cultural events, dance performances, or food trucks, for example. Get your rainbow flag and your glitter ready!
Madrid Pride: the biggest pride parade in Europe. Madrid Pride, also known as Orgullo Gay de Madrid or MADO, takes place during the first weekend after June 28th. Rightly, it is organized in Chueca, an area of central Madrid, known as the gay nieghborhood. How do the Spanish celebrate this day? You can attend the pride parade during the Saturday after June 28th. Flags and floats decorate the skies with the bright colors of the rainbow. Of course, the parade is not the only event you can enjoy. If you like culture, there are three related festivals you must take into consideration: MUESTRA·T, La Culta and La Oculta. MUESTRA·T is a mixture of theatrical arts, literature, fine arts and film screenings. La Culta is a social art festival that helps put the LGBT movement in context, emphasizing the feelings of the queer community using art as a tool. La Oculta merges culture and history with activism and vindication.
Berlin Pride Celebration or Christopher Street Day Berlin. Berlin hosts one of the largest Pride events in Europe. It’s also known as Christopher Street Day as a way of honoring the Stonewall Riots, as they took place in Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street. Rather than celebrating pride for just one day, they arrange activities during one whole month, starting at the end of May. During this month, you can enjoy Gay Night at the Zoo or Kreuzberg Pride, among others. Just a week before the parade, Lesbisch-schwules Stadtfest or Motzfest offers a lot of activities for lesbians and gays at some local pubs. Would you prefer attending a Gay beach party instead of going to pubs? No problem, you can do that in Berlin, too! Dance, sign, eat, and escape the heat on a beach by the river Spree. It’s a fabulous experience.
Amsterdam Gay Pride and Pink Saturday: celebrating Pride Day in the Netherlands. The Netherlands show a very tolerant and accepting attitude towards the LGBT community, so it’s not strange that Amsterdam Pride is a long-waited celebration every year. It lasts about a week and it holds different events like parties, workshops, exhibitions, sport activities, Pride walks, open air cinema, swimming events, and many, many more. Unlike other places, Amsterdam Pride is celebrated during the first weekend of August. One of the most spectacular events during Pride Amsterdam is the Canal Parade on the first Saturday of that month. There are plenty of different boats adorned with colorful balloons and rainbow flags. Together with Amsterdam Gay Pride, people also celebrate Pink Saturday, Roze Zaterdag, which is dedicated to asserting equal rights.
Celebrating Pride Month in Sydney, Australia: the Sydney Pride Festival. The first Australian Pride celebration (Mardi Gras for them) was a huge protest, and it was held on June 24th, 1978, a few years after the Stonewall Riots. They wanted to end discrimination and to repeal the existing anti-homosexual laws. The next year, this Mardi Gras parade took place again, and the rest is history! It continued as a tradition and, in 1988, this march was renamed as the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. This Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade continued gathering more and more people every single year. Nowadays, it’s a vivid celebration attended by thousands of people. There are different shows, drag queen performances, parties, art prizes, workshops, and even film festivals. Likewise, you can also listen to live music, listen to some talks to prevent bullying, have some drinks at different pubs, or listen to radio specials. Doesn’t it sound tempting to you?
Pride in London, promoting equality for more than 50 years. Pride in London is a huge event. Thousands of people gather to celebrate freedom, love, and life. Parties and events take place everywhere: no matter if you are at Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Whitehal, or Soho, you’ll find plenty of entertainment there. You can also celebrate Pride Day going to gay-friendly pubs, clubs, and bars. There are dance and art performances, cinema activities, plays, parades, and even big floats. They have been celebrating this day for more than 50 years, so it has become a well-established tradition. Pride in London encourages progress, mutual understanding, and protection against hate crimes. Another of its aims is to create a national AIDS memorial to pay homage to those who suffer or have suffered from HIV or AIDS. Isn’t it a great initiative?
