Each June, LGBTQ+ Americans from coast to coast celebrate the storied, tragic, and triumphant history of their queer ancestors with a month of celebration, activism, and educational initiatives. Pride commemorates the Stonewall Riots, a six-day series of protests against police raids that erupted at a gay bar in New York City on June 27th, 1969; the first Pride parade was held in their honor the following year.
Pride Month has evolved over the years: from a grassroots movement in the ‘70s, to a presidential proclamation in 1999, to an expansion to including the full spectrum of gender and sexuality in 2011. But over the decades, Black queer Americans lament that their contributions to the culture have been overlooked even at the movement’s inception. Marsha P. Johnson, a trans activist who played a leading role at Stonewall, died in 1992 as a largely unsung hero outside of the community.
Nevertheless, there are landmarks around the country commemorating Black queer history in particular. Here are six sites that you can check out this Pride Month, and year-round:
