Cultural Conversations: Pride Month, Juneteenth, and Caribbean American Heritage Month
Every year, Pride Month is observed in the month of June to commemorate the contributions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. It has occurred since 1969 during the Stonewall Inn demonstrations in Greenwich Village, Manhattan. The rainbow flag, recognized as the symbol for the LGBTQ community, was designed by Gilbert Baker and was first used in 1978 at a Pride parade in San Francisco. As the LGBTQ movement gained momentum, the first WorldPride took place in Rome, Italy, in 2000. Fast forward to 2025, the United States hosted the 26th WorldPride in Washington, DC this year, and my husband and I traveled to the event to observe and celebrate this milestone achievement marking the 50th anniversary of Pride celebrations in Washington, DC.
The LGBTQ community spans across countless walks of life, and many in the LGBTQ community recognize the intersectionality of their identities. Intersectionality refers to a broad framework for understanding how various aspects of individual identities including race, gender, sex, orientation, social class, and religion interact and inform our individual unique experiences. As a proud member of the Leadership Collier Foundation’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, we look to embrace intersectionality, in turn empowering and amplifying the voices and experiences of those with diverse backgrounds within Collier County.
Juneteenth falls every year on June 19, and the date in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to declare that enslaved people were finally free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The abolitionist movement undoubtedly celebrated in 1865, and the first official Juneteenth took place a year later on June 19, 1866. Juneteeth officially became a federal holiday in 2021.
In 2006, President George W. Bush issued a proclamation designating June as Caribbean American Heritage Month. This year the National Caribbean American Restaurant Week took place from June 8-14.
Robbie Maris- Rodriguez
Associate Leadership Collier Class of 2022