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June is Pride Month.
But because of June temperatures in Las Cruces, the annual Pride parade won’t happen until October.
That doesn’t mean the LGBTQIA+ community won’t be celebrating, Ryan Steinmetz, PFLAG
Las Cruces mountain west regional director, told the Bulletin. The community will still be able to participate is various celebrations throughout the month.
Steinmetz said the main decision to move Las Cruces Pride parade to October was because the fall month is cool enough weather-wise to allow those celebrating to be outside and have fun.
“It was also consistently conflicting with the Juneteenth celebration. That was also a factor,” Steinmetz said.
Nathan Saavedra, director of policy, power and people for Equality New Mexico, told the Bulletin that Las Cruces isn’t the only city in New Mexico to hold its Pride parade in a different month. Silver City holds it in September while Taos holds it in August.
Saavedra said Pride Month originated as a protest.
He said that only a few days after the death of LGBTQIA+ icon Judy Garland, New York City Police raided a bar called Stonewall Inn. It was a well-known gathering spot for LGBTQIA+ individuals to dance and drink. In 1969, for LGBTQIA+ individuals to dance or hold hands in a public was against the law in the U.S.
Saveedra said New York at the time, and most other states, had laws prohibiting anyone from wearing more than three items of clothing that were regarded as “inappropriate” to the sex the person was assigned at birth. It wasn’t uncommon for police to harass or raid establishments known to welcome the LGBTQIA+ community.
He said a resistance to the police raid began, which led to a riot against police. Following the Stonewall Riots, which took place for several days, the New York City LGBTQIA+ community honored the riot with an event then-called the Christopher Street Liberation Protest. Stonewall Inn was located on Christopher Street.
That became an annual event that later turned into the annual Pride parade in late June.
Steinmetz said the LGBTQIA+ community has, throughout history, “lived in the shadows.” He said that for the community to be “out and proud, particularly in times that are difficult politically,” is an important opportunity, allowing for community and to let people know “we’re here.”
“We matter and that we are a valuable part of our larger community,” Steinmetz said.
