It’s time to talk about Pride.

The 1969 Stonewall Riots sparked the catalyst for change and is said to mark the beginning of LGBTQ+ movement and Pride celebrations in the UK and around the world today.

At the very forefront of the movement was Storme DeLaverie and Marsha P. Johnson who are the reason so many of us can now freely celebrate Pride and we must never forget them.

Marsha P. Johnson was an African-American gay man and drag artist from New Jersey, whose activism in the 1960s and 70s had a huge impact on the LGBTQ+ community. In June 1969, when Marsha was 23 years old, police raided a gay bar in New York called The Stonewall Inn where they forced over 200 people out of the bar and onto the streets, and used excessive violence against them.

Marsha, who was living in New York at this time, was one of the key figures who stood up to the police during the raids. Marsha resisted arrest and in the following days, led a series of protests and riots (commonly known as the Stonewall Riots) demanding rights for gay people. A month after these protests the first openly gay march took place in New York which was a pivotal moment for the LGBTQ+ community worldwide.

Similarly to Marsha, Storme DeLaverie was also a drag artist living in New York and was at the Stonewall Inn during the police raids that initiated the Stonewall Riots. DeLarverie and several others attempted to defend their friends, but were beaten by police, however she fought back and was believed to have ‘thrown the first punch’, turning her into an icon in LGBQT+ history.

Everyone Health are proud to be an active ally and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, and will be using our platform to share important information  and resources to enable a safer and more inclusive future for many more Prides to come.