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LGBTQ+ Pride: Home

MC Library's Guide to LGBTQ+

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June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month!

MC Library is proud to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month, honoring the achievements and contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history. Here, you will explore the history, stories, and struggles of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as receive several book and video recommendations. You will also find helpful research databases and resources from MC, as well as local, and national sources, all focused on celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride and promoting understanding and inclusion. 

 

Why Celebrate Pride?

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQ+) Pride Month is celebrated each June in honor of the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, the tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Though same-sex marriage was legalized in all 50 states by the Supreme Court in 2015, the community still faces significant challenges. A record-breaking 540 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in US state legislatures in 2023 alone, and 64 countries still have laws that criminalize homosexuality. For this reason, Pride Month serves as both a celebration of diverse identities and a reminder that the LGBTQ+ community and its allies will continue to be vocal advocates for equal rights. 

Why Do We Celebrate Pride Month?

Some LGBTQ+ Pride Flags

Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag

Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag

In 2021, the Progress Pride Flag was evolved further to include the intersex community. This is the most up-to-date LGBTQ+ flag. 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Gilbert Baker Pride Flag

Gilbert Baker Pride Flag

Created in 1978. The original Pride Flag designed by Gilbert Baker by request of activist Harvey Milk to symbolize gay pride.

 

Hot Pink = Sex

Red = Life

Orange = Healing

Yellow = Sunlight

Green = Nature

Turquoise = Magic & Art

Indigo = Serenity

Violet = spirit of LGBTQ+ people 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Traditional Pride Flag

Traditional Pride Flag

Due to high demand and manufacturing issues following Harvey Milk's assassination, the hot pink stripe of the original Pride flag was removed. Gilbert Baker made the design choice to remove the turquoise stripe, thus the six color pride flag had been representing the LGBTQ+ community for over 40 years. 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Philadelphia Pride Flag

Philadelphia Pride Flag

Commissioned by the Philadelphia City Council due to the desire to incorporate queer communities of color into the flag, the Philadelphia Pride flag was unveiled at the city's pride event in 2017. 

The addition of the black and brown stripes symbolize communities of color and the contributions they have made to the movement. 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Transgender Pride Flag

Transgender Pride Flag

Created by US Navy Veteran Monica Helms and debuted in 2000 at Phoenix Pride. The flag symbolizes the diversity of the trans community and the rights they fight for. 

 

Blue = 'traditional boy' colors 

Pink = 'traditional girl' colors 

White = people who are intersex, transitioning, or have an undefined gender

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Agender Pride Flag

Agender Pride Flag

Created to represent individuals who have an unidentifiable gender, are gender neutral, or don't have a gender. 

 

Black & White = absence of gender

Gray = semi-genderless people

Green = non-binary people 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Asexual Pride Flag

Asexual Pride Flag

Created in 2010 following a contest held by the Asexual Visibility and Education Network. Those who are asexual do not hold sexual attraction to any gender. 

 

Black = asexuality 

Gray = gray-asexuality & demisexuality

White = non-asexual partners and allies

Purple = community 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Bisexual Pride Flag

Bisexual Pride Flag

Created in 1998 to bring awareness to the bisexual community by Michael Page. 

 

Pink = attraction to the same gender

Purple = attraction to two genders 

Blue = attraction to the opposite gender 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Genderfluid Pride Flag

Genderfluid Pride Flag

Developed in 2013 by JJ Poole, the flag represents those whose gender identity and/or gender expression fluctuates.

 

Pink = femininity 

Blue = masculinity

White = lack of gender 

Black = all genders 

Purple = combination of masculinity and femininity 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Genderqueer Pride Flag

Genderqueer Pride Flag

Created in 2011 by Marilyn Roxie, the flag represents those who reject static categories of gender. 

 

Lavender = androgyny and other queer identities 

White = agender people

Green = people who fall outside of the binary 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Intersex Pride Flag

Intersex Pride Flag

Developed in 2013 by Morgan Carpenter, the co-chair of Intersex Human Rights Australia. Intersex are those who are born with differences in reproductive anatomy and sex traits. 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Lesbian Pride Flag

Lesbian Pride Flag

Iteration of the flag currently used since 2018. The different shades within the flag represent different types of femininity. 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Non-Binary Pride Flag

Non-Binary Pride Flag

Created back in 2014 to represent individuals who don't identify either either binary gender or within the binary. 

 

Yellow = gender outside of the binary

White = those with multiple genders; all genders

Purple = those who fall between male/female binary 

Black = No gender 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Pansexual Pride Flag

Pansexual Pride Flag

Created in 2010 to bring awareness to the Pansexual community. Those who are pansexual can be either emotionally, romantically, or sexually attracted to people of any gender though not all at once or the same. 

 

Pink = attraction to women

Blue = attraction to men

Yellow = everyone else in-between and beyond the gender binary 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Polyamory Pride Flag

Polyamory Pride Flag

Created in 1995 by Jim Evans to represent all polyamorous people. 

 

Blue = openness and honesty 

Red = love and passion

Black = Solidarity with individuals who hide their polyamorous relationships 

Pi Sign = Infinite options of partners 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Polysexual Pride Flag

Polysexual Pride Flag

Created in 2012 for people attracted to multiple genders. 

 

Blue = attraction to men

Pink = attraction to women

Green = attraction outside of the binary 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Progress Pride Flag

Progress Pride Flag

Evolved from the Philadelphia Pride Flag to also represent the Trans community by Daniel Quaser. 

Source: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Videos on LGBTQ+ Pride

Event Details

The Women's and Gender Studies Program Student Empowerment Resource Fair 

Date:  October 16th, 2024

Time: 11am - 1pm

Location: Rockville Campus Green Space (Rain Location: SV Atrium)

37th Annual High Heel Race 

Celebrate DC's electric LGBTQIA+ community with Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Mayor's Office of LGBTQ Affairs at the 37th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race!

Date:  October 29th, 2024

Time: 
Race Check-in: 7:30pm
Race Beings: 9pm

Location: 17th ST NW (P Street to S Street)

Transgender and Autusm Acceptance in Schools and College: My Experience 

Virtual Speaker Series event in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance featuring guest Elizabeth "Lizzy" Graham. 

Date:  November 20th, 2024

Time: 1pm - 2pm

Location: Zoom

Registration: Yes, visit link below 

Annapolis Pride Parade & Festival 

Date:  June 1st, 2025

Time: 12pm - 5pm

Location:
Parade - Annapolis City Dock
Festival - Maryland Hall 

Contact: TBA

WorldPride Washington, DC 2025

Washington, DC will host WorldPride 2025!

Date:  May 23rd - June 8th, 2025

Time: TBD

Location: TBD

Contact: TBA

About These Guides

Each year, Montgomery College's Board of Trustees designates national and state of Maryland awareness days and months for MC to celebrate. To acknowledge and celebrate diversity, MC Library creates online guides and library displays for each awareness day or month designated by the Board.

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