Pride is a time to celebrate our community, publicly display our love for one another, and continue our protest of equality that stems back to the BlackCat and Stonewall Riots.

The quote by Tommy Dorfman highlights the significance of Pride as both a celebration and a protest. Pride events are moments for the LGBTQ+ community to come together, affirm their identities, and show love and solidarity. At the same time, Dorfman emphasizes that Pride is not only about joy and visibility but also about continuing the fight for equality, reflecting the movement’s activist roots.

The origin of this perspective comes from the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Dorfman references the BlackCat Riots of 1967 in Los Angeles and the Stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York, both of which were pivotal moments of resistance against police harassment and societal oppression. These uprisings laid the groundwork for modern Pride celebrations, transforming them into annual reminders of both progress and the ongoing struggle for justice and equal rights.

By tying contemporary Pride events to these historical riots, Dorfman underscores the importance of remembering the activism that made today’s visibility possible. The public display of love during Pride is therefore more than a cultural celebration—it is also a political act, reclaiming space and challenging systems that once sought to erase LGBTQ+ identities.

In essence, Dorfman’s quote bridges past and present. It reminds us that Pride is a dual force: it honors the community’s resilience and joy, while also continuing the long-standing protest for equality that began decades ago. It is both a reflection of love and an assertion of rights, rooted deeply in LGBTQ+ history.