From protest to party to everyday presence — Pride has changed a lot over the years. But one thing hasn’t: the need to keep showing up.
At FLAVNT, Pride isn’t a month. It’s not a marketing opportunity. And it’s not something we hang up in the closet come July 1. For us — and for so many in the LGBTQIA+ community — Pride is personal, political, and persistent.
In this post, we’re looking at how Pride started, how it’s changed, and why it’s important to celebrate and support queer people every single day of the year — not just in June.
Where It Started: A Protest, Not a Party
Pride has roots in resistance. Specifically, the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969 — when Black and Brown trans folks, including icons like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, fought back against police raids at the Stonewall Inn in New York City.
That uprising sparked a wave of activism that laid the foundation for modern LGBTQIA+ rights movements.
The first Pride march wasn’t a parade — it was a commemorative protest held on the one-year anniversary of Stonewall. No floats. No sponsorships. Just queer folks marching for their lives, their rights, and their visibility.
How It’s Changed
Fast-forward to today and Pride can look very different:
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Colorful parades with floats and glitter
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Corporate booths handing out rainbow merch
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Massive festivals with performers, DJs, and brand sponsorships
While visibility is important — and we love a good Pride party — the increasing commercialization of Pride has also led to:
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Rainbow-washing: brands using queer aesthetics for profit without meaningful support
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Exclusion of QTBIPOC, trans, and disabled folks from the center of the narrative
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A shift away from activism and toward celebration-only
That’s not to say the party isn’t valid — queer joy is radical in itself — but it’s important we don’t forget the why behind it.
Why Pride Still Matters — Every Day
We still live in a world where:
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Trans rights are under attack in dozens of U.S. states
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LGBTQ+ youth face rising rates of depression, bullying, and homelessness
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Queer stories are banned from classrooms and libraries
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Pride flags are burned, banned, or treated like threats
So no — we can’t stop at June. Supporting the LGBTQ+ community means:
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Buying from queer-owned brands (hey 👋)
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Advocating for trans youth and healthcare
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Speaking out when you hear anti-queer rhetoric
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Showing up — not just for Pride weekend, but for the fights and celebrations that happen all year
What Year-Round Pride Looks Like at FLAVNT
We founded FLAVNT in 2014 because we wanted to give back to our community every month — not just when it’s trending.
Here’s what that looks like:
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Donating to 14 gender-affirming surgery funds from 2014-2022
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Donating to LGBTQIA+ organizations and mutual aid year-round
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Creating gender-affirming binders and inclusive apparel that aren’t tied to seasonal drops
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Designing with our community in mind, not corporations
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Uplifting trans, nonbinary, and queer stories — not just when it’s popular
We don’t do seasonal allyship. We do lifelong support.
How You Can Celebrate Pride Year-Round
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Support queer creators, businesses, and organizations
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Read books by queer authors and recommend them to friends
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Talk to your workplace or school about inclusive policies
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Donate monthly, not just once, to LGBTQIA+ causes
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Uplift QTBIPOC voices and listen when they speak
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Wear your Pride — even when it’s not June
You don’t need glitter, floats, or a parade to live out loud. Just intention, action, and community.
Final Thought: Pride Is a Practice, Not a Season
Pride didn’t start as a celebration — but we’re proud to celebrate how far we’ve come.
Still, the work isn’t done. So while we’ll always show up for Pride Month (and make cute things for it), we’ll also keep doing the everyday work of being visible, being vocal, and being there for our community — 365 days a year.
And we hope you’ll keep showing up, too.
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