June is Pride Month. Here’s why Reno’s parade won’t happen until September

June is Pride Month in the United States. The federal government declared June as “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month” in 1999 under President Bill Clinton. The month was expanded to “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month” by President Barack Obama in 2009.

However, Pride Month dates back several decades before it was “officially” recognized by the government. The first Pride march was held in New York City on June 28, 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.

Here’s a look at why we celebrate Pride Month, what Pride Month’s theme is for 2025, and why Reno‘s pride celebration isn’t until September.

What is Pride Month celebrating?

In the early hours of June 28, 1969, New York City police officers raided the now historic gay bar, Stonewall Inn. In New York at the time, homosexuality was considered a criminal offense, and it wouldn’t be until 1980 that “same-sex relationships” were decriminalized in the state. At the time, Stonewall Inn was owned by the mafia, who didn’t care about its clientele and often tipped off law enforcement to “illegal” practices, according to the Library of Congress.

Though the police had raided Stonewall Inn and countless others before, the events of June 28, 1969, known as the Stonewall Riots, spearheaded a six-day uprising for LGBTQ+ rights where protesters clashed violently with law enforcement.

In addition to the first Pride march in 1970, the Stonewall Riots led to the establishment of advocacy organizations like the Gay Liberation Front, Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, and PFLAG.

It wasn’t until June 2003 that same-sex relationships were decriminalized federally. And in 2015, same-sex marriage was legalized by the Supreme Court.

References to trans people removed from Stonewall website earlier this year

In February 2025, NPR reported that the term “transgender” and the “T” in LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) had been removed from the National Park Service’s website page dedicated to the Stonewall National Monument.

Despite transgender activists being central to Stonewall and the movements that followed, the Stonewall National Monument website remains without acknowledgement of the transgender community’s involvement.

According to NPR, it’s unclear who is responsible for the removal.

What is the theme for Pride Month 2025?

Pride Month’s theme varies from city to city. In New York City, Pride Month 2025’s theme is “Rise Up: Pride in Protest.” San Francisco’s Pride Month theme this year is “Queer Joy is Resistance.” Los Angeles’s theme is “Pride Marches On,” and Washington, D.C.’s theme is “The Fabric of Freedom.”

Why is Pride Month in June?

Pride Month is in June in the United States because it is the month the Stonewall riots began in 1969.

What does LGBTQIA+ stand for?

LGBTQIA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and beyond.

Why does a rainbow flag represent Pride Month?

The rainbow Pride flag is easy to spot during Pride Month. There are a few different Pride flags that have been created over the years, but the original flag, created in 1978 by Gilbert Baker featured nine colors: Hot pink for sex, red for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, turquoise for magic and art, indigo for serenity and violet for the spirit of LGBTQ+ people, as outlined by the Humans Right Campaign.

Does Reno have a pride parade?

Yes. This year’s pride events will begin at 10 a.m. Sept. 6, 2025, in Midtown. Tickets and participation sign-ups are not currently available, but you can sign up for updates at northernnevadapride.org.

Stacey Spain, the executive director of Our Center, which organizes Northern Nevada Pride, said this year’s CommUNITY Parade does not have a theme, but she hopes people remember that the LGBTQIA+ community is an integral part of the Northern Nevada community as a whole.

Why is Reno’s pride in September?

Until two years ago, Reno’s Pride celebrations were held in July to coincide with Artown.

“We moved it to September because July was so dang hot,” Spain said.

Reno is hot in the summer and getting hotter. In fact, the Biggest Little City recently broke a heat record on May 31, when it reached 99 degrees. The previous record on May 31 in Reno was in 1910 when temperatures reached 98 degrees.

The switch to a September event was made in 2023.

Spain added that this year, Northern Nevada Pride will be held in Midtown rather than its usual location in Wingfield Park because of the construction on the Arlington Bridge, which will last until 2026.

This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: June is pride month. Here’s why Reno’s parade won’t happen until September

Reporting by Carly Sauvageau and Greta Cross, USA TODAY / Reno Gazette Journal

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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