June is PRIDE month – a month to celebrate the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community and its contributions to society. The word “pride” is used in most of the month's celebrations, as a combatant against the words and/or feelings of “shame” and “social stigma” that some people in the community may have experienced at some point during their lives. Pride month grew from the first Pride March, held in New York City in 1970 to commemorate the Stonewall riots. It's now celebrated with marches and celebrations in cities around the world.
Sowing the seeds of acceptance starts young – studies have found that children start to recognize differences in themselves and others as early as age 3, and sometimes even younger. Your children and/or students are looking to you – their parent, teacher, caregiver, coach, etc. Teach them that differences are beautiful and that it is our individual uniqueness that creates a vibrant community.
Include on your shelves books that feature same-sex couples, such as “My Two Moms and Me”, by Michael Joosten, or books that encourage kids to be individuals, like “Julian is a Mermaid” by Jessica Love.
Here are a few other, family-friendly ideas for celebrating Pride as a family:
Attend a Pride parade together
Make or purchase a rainbow flag and hang it from your house
Attend a Drag Queen story hour
Talk about the history behind Pride month
Host a lemonade stand or bake sale and donate the proceeds to your local LGBTQ organization
What are some ways that and your family talk about and/or celebrate Pride and the LGBTQ communities? Share them with us in the comments below or on our ZENworks Yoga social media pages!
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