Sharing Pride Month with Kids: 9 Ways to Celebrate Pride Month
Happy Pride Month! This month is a time to spotlight, recognize, and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) cultures, histories, and identities. We honor the LGBTQ+ heroes who came before us and continue the fight for a future where everyone feels welcome and respected.
What is Pride Month? It's a time to celebrate and honor lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people in the United States. We recognize their contributions to history and their importance in shaping the future. It's about pride in who you are, and working toward a society where everyone feels welcome, safe, and included.
Throughout the month, there are parades, marches, and other events. These celebrations honor LGBTQ+ culture and history, raise awareness for LGBTQ+ rights, and remember those lost to HIV/AIDS.
Pride Month History
Pride Month commemorates the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. These brave protests sparked the modern LGBTQ+ movement.
The first Pride March followed a year later in June. Since then, communities have come together each June to celebrate Pride through marches, advocacy, and joyful events. In the year 2000, Pride Month received official recognition by President Bill Clinton, honoring the history, contributions, and ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights in America.
Why is Pride Month important for kids? All kids deserve to feel safe and accepted for who they are!
According to the Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ+ youth say the biggest problem they face right now is a lack of acceptance from their family. They’re also twice as likely to say they have been bullied at school.
Unsurprisingly, this lack of acceptance and a support system has a negative impact on LGBTQ+ youth mental health, with LGBTQ+ youth suicide becoming an urgent priority – according to the Trevor Project’s 2022 survey, nearly half (45%) of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide within the past year.
LGBTQ+ youth who find their school to be affirming of their identity reported lower rates of attempting suicide. Boys & Girls Clubs provide LGBTQ+ youth space to be themselves, caring adults who listen and services to build healthy coping skills, self-esteem and more.
Celebrating Pride Month helps LGBTQ+ youth and adults feel safe, affirmed and welcome within your home, school, Club or community. Plus, creating a safe place where people can be themselves benefits all – when people see others included, they are more likely to feel included, too.
We can all work to be more informed and inclusive friends and allies of the LGBTQ+ kids and adults in our lives. Ready to celebrate Pride Month with your kids? There are also a ton of ways for kids of all ages to join the fun! From parades and festivals to educational events and art exhibits, Pride Month offers opportunities to learn, celebrate, and show the importance of inclusion and being yourself.
Find Pride Month Activities Local to You:
Go out and celebrate. To get the full experience, attend a local Pride march, parade or festival.
Experience and learn from LGBTQ+ voices. Research local museum exhibits, art shows, or performances near you this June that highlight LGBTQ+ voices and experiences.
Pride Month Activities for Kids to Do at School & Home:
Create Pride-themed artwork. From rainbows to parade signs to the Pride flag, have kids color or draw art to display around your house, school or Club all month long.
Download Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s printable Pride Month coloring sheet.
Check out the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Pride Family Zone art activities.
Read and watch youth perspectives on the experience of growing up LGBTQ+:
Watch: Leonard talks his identity as a Black teen finding his LGBTQ community at his Boys & Girls Club.
Read: Teen Kate shares how acceptance and trust were everything in her experience coming out as transgender.
Watch videos that inspire and educate. Give screen time a dose of Pride with videos that help explain what Pride Month is about.
Quick watch: Demi Lovato narrates The Trevor Project’s “Pride Everywhere” video which explains Pride Month.
Options: PBS lists “What to Watch to Celebrate Pride Month” which includes a mix of documentaries and informational videos to tune into.
Ignite critical thinking and discussion with teens on LGBTQ+ representation and rights.
Did you know GLAAD creates a “Where We Are on TV” report? Discuss the findings and talk about LGBTQ+ representation in pop culture, what teens are watching, etc.
Today’s teens will likely see connections in the Black Lives Matters Movement to the Stonewall Uprising and Gay Liberation Movement. Discuss bias within systems and communities, and what teens think is needed to inspire positive change.
Learn how to be an ally and an advocate. Check out these tips on being an ally and supporter to LGBTQ youth. Consider making posters or signs to place around your home, school or Club with welcoming phrases like – “You are perfect just the way you are.” / “Everyone is welcome here!” / “This is a safe place to be yourself.” – or have kids make up their own. Older teens can learn about advocacy, including contacting state and local representatives to express your support for policies that protect the rights of everyone.
Choose an LGBTQ+ cause to support. As a family, consider donating to an organization that supports LGBTQ+ rights, such as the Human Rights Campaign, the Trevor Project and more, and talk about the importance of supporting causes that matter to you.
Keep celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion year-round. Model the way for a more inclusive future for generations to come.
We hope you join Boys & Girls Clubs in celebrating Pride Month. Clubs are committed to equity and inclusion for all – and that starts with giving millions of kids and teens a place to belong, know their value and reach their full potential.
If you or someone you know needs suicide prevention support, seek help immediately. You can call the free, confidential National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) at any time. You can also contact the Trevor Project, the leading national organization in providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention support for LGBTQ+ youth under the age of 25.
Story adapted from BGCA.org.