Pride month is coming up June first and Sinclair is ready to help everyone get educated and celebrate all month long with virtual Pride parades. The online parades are available in a webinar format and are scheduled on the following dates: June 2 at 6:00 p.m., June 11 at 10:00 a.m., and June 28 at 12 Noon. Please click on these dates to register in advance.
The parades are hosted by Sinclair’s Diversity office – located in Building 12, Room 220. The Brite Signal Alliance, a Sinclair student club that promotes equality & raises awareness about LGBTQ+ issues. For ten strong years Brite Sig has provided an accepting, educational, and fun environment here on campus. And The SAGE Committee.
Pride month exists because of the Stonewall Riot which took place from June 28 to July 3, 1969. The riot began in response to police raiding the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, in New York City. After police had assaulted, harassed, and beat bar patrons a riot broke out against them that lasted days and put the oppression of LGBTQ+ people front and center in national news. Now almost 53 years later Pride month marks the incredible history and fight of LGBTQ+ people.
Dayton has a rich LGBT+ history herself. In 1976 the Greater Dayton LGBT Center was founded to with the mission to “Enhance lives and empower members of the diverse sexual and gender communities throughout the Miami Valley”. And still is active 52 years later today! In 1987 Willa and Meredith Dallas of Yellow Springs, started a Dayton chapter of PFLAG, the meetings were here, at Sinclair. They stayed here until the group moved in 1991. In 2009 a historical marker decided to Natalie Barney, a famous Lesbian poet and Dayton native, was placed in Cooper Park. It was the first ever maker in Ohio to include a person’s sexualilty. In 2014 pervious Mayor Nan Whaley officiated a commitment ceremony between gay couples in lieu of marriage ceremonies which was not legally recognized in Ohio at the time. This year will mark the 48th Pride celebration in Dayton!
LeAnne McPherson
Reporter