TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Pride Month is a time to celebrate the contributions and rights of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+) community. Pride Month spans the entire month of June each year and brings together people, organizations, and communities to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and celebrate the progress made towards a more inclusive society.
Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. On June 28, 1969, New York City Police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club. This raid sparked an uprising against police by bar patrons and neighborhood residents.
The uprising lasted six days and was the catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States. During the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations in 1969, a young activist named Fred Sargeant, called for nationwide demonstrations each June in honor of the events at Stonewall. Many cities now hold parades instead of demonstrations each June.
There are plenty of ways to participate and show support during Pride Month. You can lend your voice, volunteer your time, participate in events, or simply increase your awareness through conversations with members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies and through LGBTQ+ literature such as books or films.
During the month of June, please take a moment to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and join in the fight for equality, acceptance, and visibility.
A Pride Luncheon will be held June 21, 2024 at the Tinker Event Center Dining Room from 11:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Team Tinker is also welcome to join the Tinker Pride Alliance in the Oklahoma Pridefest 2024 Parade on June 30, 2024 at 11 a.m. For more information, contact the Tinker Pride Alliance at (405) 734-4807.
The Tinker Pride Alliance is a private organization on Tinker Air Force Base. The Tinker Pride Alliance serves as a social and professional organization for members of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Its mission is to enhance morale, esprit de corps, and cooperation by providing a network of support and opportunity for all involved to better serve the wider community. If you are interested in getting involved with the Tinker Pride Alliance, please contact the organization by emailing tinkerpridealliance@gmail.com.