Honoring Pride Today and Every Day!

Written by Sexual Wellness Institute Owner and Therapist, Amanda Holmberg, MS LMFT

Do you know why we honor the month of June as Pride Month?

Pride month was started to commemorate the June of 1969 Stonewall Uprising/Riots. The Stonewall riots began when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Manhattan. Police officers often targeted gay bars at this time. In 1969 “homosexual acts” were illegal in every state except Illinois. Bars could also be shut down for having gay people inside them. On this particular night in June of 1969, the patrons of this bar decided to fight back again the police and it turned into a 6-day protest outside of the bar and throughout the area. 
Many say this historical event and these brave people are what launched the gay rights movement.
One year later on the anniversary of the riots, on June 28th, 1970, gay activists organized and marched in New York’s first Gay Pride Week. 

Why is the history of Pride Month important?

It’s important to honor what has come before, and what has contributed to where we are now. We are not in a perfect place with the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, but we have come very far in the last few decades. 
Since the original pride march in 1970 many cities worldwide have adopted their own versions of pride month in June.
One blog will not do justice in explaining the systemic trauma that this community has experienced. This is why pride month is important – amongst other things, it is a time to honor this community of people both for who they are and reflect on the ways we still need to do better. 
History of Pride Month resourced from https://www.history.com/pride

Consider what Pride Month means to you...

We encourage you to honor pride month in whatever way feels best and safest to you. Many still don’t feel safe being “out” amongst friends and family or celebrating at a local parade. If events are your thing, there are many happening throughout the month of June in the Minneapolis area. 

If you are seeking community, therapy, support, etc outside of pride events here are some local resources and what they offer!

Minnesota Transgender Health Coalition 

• “Committed to improving health care access and the quality of health care received by trans and gender non-conforming people through education, resources, and advocacy.”
• Programs they have:
  • Shot Clinics; helping trans folks with their hormone shots 
  • Free HIV/Hepatitis C Testing and Counseling
  • Several Support Groups 
  • Transgender Health Training for healthcare professionals, clinic staff, and students in Minnesota 

Minnesota Transgender Health Alliance

• Resources and support to all members of the transgender communities

OUTFRONT Minnesota

• “Founded in 1987 to fight for LGBTQ justice and equity. Over the past 32 years, we have worked to ensure that our values of liberation and intersectional justice guide our work until full equality under the law and full equity in practice is realized.”
• Some things this group has done:
  • They successfully passed a nondiscrimination law that included sexual orientation and gender identity as protected statuses in 1993
  • They defeated an anti-marriage amendment at the ballot box and passing marriage equality through the legislature in 2013
  • They also passed the Safe and Supportive Schools Act in 2014

Rainbow Health 

• “We are as dedicated as ever to working for equitable health care access and outcomes for people who experience injustice at the intersection of health status and identity. We center individuals and communities at risk of and living with HIV or facing barriers to equitable health care access and outcomes because of their identity as gender, sexual, and/or racial minorities.”
• They offer training and education, therapy/counseling, HIV assistance, syringe exchanges to lower the risk of HIV, and several other programs. 

The Bridge For Youth 

• Mission: The Bridge for Youth centers youth voice, justice, and equity in all we do, and empowers youth experiencing homelessness through safe shelter, basic needs, and healthy relationships.

The Quorum

• An organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+ and LGBT-allied businesses, corporations, nonprofits, and professionals focused on building a strong business community in Minnesota. Quorum champions the business case for a fully inclusive business community as a conduit for economic development and is a leader in the continuum of change. With over 70+ networking, education, and certification events, Quorum builds, connects, and strengthens Minnesota's LGBTQ+ and Allied business community.

PRIDE Institute

• “Pride Institute offers inclusive and accepting recovery programs for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Pride first opened in 1986 and has since gone on to be one of the leading providers in the area of residential and outpatient program treatment for substance use and addiction needs of the LGBTQ+ population.”

Quatrefoil Library 

• “Quatrefoil Library is a community center that cultivates the free exchange of ideas and makes accessible LGBTQ+ materials for education and inspiration.”
• They have many different clubs including: 
  • Fabulous Fridays which is a game/social night at the library
  • Lesbian Fiction book club
  • Queer History book club
  • Transgender book club
• Also host some creative writing classes 

The Trevor Project

• 24/7 Hotline for Support & Crisis (Text START to 678-678 or call 1-866-488-7386)
• Join their online community for support
• Get resources

Athletic Clubs/Organizations: 

• GLASS - Midwest Gay Lesbian Athletic Association; a major player in local gay volleyball 
• Minnesota Gay Flag Football - “seeks to promote the positive social and athletic enjoyment of American Flag Football. Through our league, events, and most importantly our players, we seek to foster and augment the self-respect of all LGBTQ+ persons and to promote respect and understanding from the larger community.”
• Minnesota Ice Swim Club - club swim team for local LGBTQ+ swimmers 
• Minnesota Out Sport Alliance - “A directory of Minnesota sporting organizations striving to promote amateur sports competition, for all persons regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, with special emphasis on the participation of members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.”
• Stonewall Kickball & Dodgeball

(The above are just a few! There are so many of these, which all aim to build community.) 

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Interested in LGBTQ-Friendly Sex Therapy or Relationship Counseling in Plymouth, MN?

You deserve affirming and friendly support every month of the year, not just Pride Month! Our couples and marriage therapists want to help you with sex therapy or marriage counseling here in Plymouth, or anywhere in the state with online therapy in Minnesota. Get started by following these simple steps:

1. Contact the Sexual Wellness Institute to set up your first appointment.
2. Meet with one of our skilled sex therapists for an intake appointment.
3. Begin building better communication with your partner, overcome sexual concerns and experience new fun and intimacy in your relationship!​

Other Relationship & Mental Health Services in Minnesota

In addition to couples therapy & marriage counseling,  our LGBT & polyamory friendly sex therapists provide a wide range of mental health services at our Plymouth, MN counseling office. Other services include sex therapy, EFT, evidence-based couples therapy, EMDR & sexual trauma therapy, as well as, teen therapy. In order to help serve the mental health needs of all those living in Minnesota, we also offer online counseling & sex therapy. We also provide a variety of helpful tips on our mental health blog. Please feel free to reach out with questions, or if you would like to schedule an appointment to begin working with a skilled therapist! Your love life can be amazing.

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