For Luis Garay, the director of Elon University’s Gender & LGBTQIA Center, Pride Month is not just personal, but historical too.
“On a personal level, it just always reminds me to really think about my queer identity and celebrate that,” Garay said. “The reason I say it’s also historical is because it’s a time of remembering our history and where we came from.”
Celebrated in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots, Pride Month commemorates LGBTQIA+ communities, their ongoing pursuit for equal justice under the law and their accomplishments. Garay said when they look at queer history, they start with Stonewall but also reflect on the events that came after, such as the 2015 Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
“The genesis of Pride Month was folks who were being targeted for their queer identity,” Garay said. “Now it’s pride parades and pop-ups and meetups, but there were folks who were being really targeted for their different identities.”
During the spring semester, the GLC held its annual Spring Pride event to educate community members on LGBTQIA+ identities. And while Garay said the GLC does not generally hold events on campus over the summer for Pride Month, they have received a number of questions if something would be held.
The GLC has everything from pride flags and buttons to stickers and resources available through the summer and is currently planning a gathering for the university community later this month. Updates for the event can be found on Instagram.
Garay said one of the GLC’s goals is to connect Elon with community organizations to best support LGBTQIA+ youth in Alamance County.
Throughout June, organizations across Alamance County and the state will host events in honor of Pride Month. Here’s where to celebrate:
Events
June 11
Love = Love Pride Month Celebration
2 - 6 p.m.
Tobacco Wood Brewing Company, Durham
6 p.m.
United Church of Christ, Burlington
June 12
10:30 a.m.
United Church of Christ, Burlington
June 18
10 a.m.
June 25
LGBTQ Alamance Coffe Talk Pride walk
10 a.m. - noon
Downtown Burlington
11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Raleigh
Serves LGBTQ communities of Alamance County with an annual Pride festival, typically held in September or October.
Aug. 20-21
Uptown Charlotte
Resources
Moseley 209
The local chapter of a national organization, PFLAG – Parents & Friends of Lesbians And Gays provides support for friends and families of LGBTQIA+ people through educational materials and advocacy against bullying and harassment.
Elon Community Church is one of Alamance County’s LGBTQIA+-affirming places of worship.