In a world that claims progress and inclusivity, it is disheartening to witness the persistent shadows of prejudice cast upon the LGBTQ+ community. From the humblest corners of society to the grand stage of global politics, there exists a myriad of reasons, however wrong, why some individuals remain staunchly ignorant when it comes to accepting and embracing diverse sexual orientations and gender fluidity.

While significant progress has been made over the years, including a growing number of individuals, particularly Gen Z, feeling more comfortable and open about their LGBTQIA+ identities, there remains much work to be done. Unfortunately, even during Pride Month, which spans the entire month of June, incidents like the recent vandalism of the LGBTQIA+ community's flags at Stonewall National Monument in New York City, the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, serve as a reminder that challenges persist.

"Pride Month — and the pride parades — continue to be deeply important in the continued solidarity, fight for human rights, and visibility of the LGBTQI+ community. Additionally, and equally important, is the label 'pride'," Samantha Stein, a licensed psychologist based in San Francisco, told Bored Panda in an email. In 2019, Pride celebrations in San Francisco included 289 parade contingents and held "the largest gathering of LGBTQ+ people and allies in the nation."

"Over the years, it has continued to increase in size and scope, and I haven't seen or heard of any displays of prejudice there since the 1990s," Stein said. "In some ways, it has lost some of its original power: many of the young people from the Bay Area who attend are not aware of the history and courage of the original PRIDE celebrations. That said, we can view that as a positive change since they haven't had to be!" 

June, for those of you who don't know, is a month of celebration that aligns with a significant event in the history of the Gay Liberation Movement known as the Stonewall Uprising. In the early hours of June 28th, 1969, a gay bar called 'The Stonewall Inn' in New York City's West Village was targeted by a police raid. Such raids were common at the time, but on this particular occasion, the patrons of the bar resisted and fought back, leading to what became known as the Stonewall Riots. These protests continued for several days.

Recognizing its historical significance, the city of New York designated the Stonewall Inn as a historic landmark in 2015, and it was further honored as a national monument by President Barack Obama in 2016. This June marks the 53rd anniversary of the first Pride parade, which took place in 1970, a year after the uprising at Stonewall.

"Regrettably, prejudice, oppression, violence, and even loss of life persist as harsh realities for individuals within the LGBTQI+ community, both in the United States and worldwide. Alarmingly, numerous states in the US are enacting legislation that actively undermines the rights of these individuals," said Stein.

According to The American Civil Liberties Union, there were 19 bills introduced this year so far undermining freedom of speech and expression for LGBTQ people, including ones that target drag show performances.

"For a group of people who are told continuously — through laws, religions, media, bullying, and directly — that LBTQI+ people are less-than or should not exist," Stein explained, "it is deeply psychologically important that there be counter-messaging."

She argues that this continuous messaging of inferiority often takes a toll on their mental well-being and can result in profound consequences such as mental illness, addiction, isolation, and even loss of life. "People fear and hate what they are taught to fear and hate, and they often fear what's unfamiliar."