2023 Pride Celebration!

Author: Dan Anslow-O'Rourke

A couple days shy of the 54th anniversary of The Stonewall Riots, Lawliners united (6/22/23) to educate, empathize and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community.The Stonewall Riots, also called the Stonewall Uprising, began in the early hours of June 28, 1969 when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village in New York City. This led to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar on Christopher Street, in neighboring streets and in Christopher Park. The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and ultimately around the world. 

Lawline’s MERG (Minority Employee Resources Group) handpicked an episode from the incredible HBO series "We're Here" to really capture the essence of how the LGBTQIA+ community is deeply impacted.  "We're Here" takes viewers on a captivating journey with three remarkable drag sisters as they embark on their travels to small towns. They beautifully illuminate the stories of LGBTQIA+ individuals within these communities, leaving an impactful mark on the viewer's heart. Each episode chronicles the stories of 3 or more individuals and the challenges they have faced or currently face as a member in the community. Some challenges the show addresses are religious differences, racial injustices and even being disowned. Each episode concludes with a drag showcase in which the locals are invited to watch the individuals we followed share their story through their performance. 

The clips we showed follow the story of a transgender man named Brandon and his wife Mikayla who were committed to reliving their wedding, this time with more love and empathy.  "Love is Love is Love" and "the only way to be loved is by giving love," was advocated throughout the episode and in the clips we showed. Their story culminated with a performance of “This is Me” by Keale Settle from The Greatest Showman where they got to reenact their wedding with a community of supporters there.

We then discussed some of the themes shown throughout their story and the impact a supportive community and chosen family can have. Fun facts were also provided to enhance everyone’s understanding of various flags displayed at pride and why the acronym LGBT is in that order.

At Lawline, we feel strongly that Pride month may be June but it’s important to have pride all year round. Remember there is always going to be more that can be done to support the LGBTQIA+ community, so we encourage individuals to get involved in their communities.