Pride Month for 2019 kicked off on June 1, and while the month is normally a time to celebrate love and equality, this year’s Pride celebrations are more significant.
This year’s celebrations also commemorate 50 years since the Stonewall Riots, during which members of the New York City LGBTQ community took to the streets after a raid by police at the Stonewall Inn, which eventuated into the now iconic Mardi Gras festival. During the month of June, members of the LGBTQ community and allies celebrate the right to love whomever you want through parades, Pride events, and donations to LGBTQ organisations.
Here’s how celebrities are celebrating the start of Pride Month:
Taylor Swift
Taylor took to Instagram to share a letter she had written to Senator Alexander. “🌈 HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!! 🌈,” she began. “While we have so much to celebrate, we also have a great distance to go before everyone in this country is truly treated equally. In excellent recent news, the House has passed the Equality Act, which would protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in their places of work, homes, schools, and other public accommodations.
“The next step is that the bill will go before the Senate. I’ve decided to kick off Pride Month by writing a letter to one of my senators to explain how strongly I feel that the Equality Act should be passed. I urge you to write to your senators too. I’ll be looking for your letters by searching the hashtag. Let’s show our pride by demanding that, on a national level, our laws truly treat all of our citizens equally.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
“Continuing with our tradition to rotate the accounts we follow based on causes and social issues that matter to us: For the month of June we “proudly” shine a light on PRIDE. This month we pay tribute to the accounts supporting the LGBTQ+ community – those young and old, their families and friends, accounts that reflect on the past and are hopeful for a deservedly more inclusive future. We stand with you and support you 🌈”
Mariah Carey
“Happy Pride Month!!!! 🏳🌈🏳🌈 Love always to all my friends in the LGBTQ+ community! Get my festive shirt and more pride merch @ mariahpride.com 🏳🌈🦋 #HappyPride #LoveIsLove”
Katy Perry
“💜💙💚💛❤️ Happy Pride Month, my angels! Let us never stop lifting each other up. I see you, and I love you ❤️💛💚💙💜”
Ellen Page and Emma Portner
“HAPPY PRIDE!!! Sending love ❤️🌈”
Jonathan Van Ness
“Happy Pride loves 💕💙 Time to celebrate with your LGBTQ fam & allies alike to celebrate the diversity that makes everyone stronger! 🌈🌈”
