On campus, both Pride Month and LGBTQ+ History Month are celebrated, but what is the main difference? While organizations such as Torch and oSTEM embody the spirit of living with pride daily, the purpose of Pride Month is to “recognize the impact that LGBTQ individuals have had on society locally, nationally and internationally.” The month was inspired by the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, the catalyst for the Gay Liberation Movement, and has since been about achieving equal rights for LGBTQ+ Americans. Nationally, Pride Month is observed in June, but on college campuses such as Stevens, it is observed in April as a way for the community to come together and celebrate while classes are in session.
In comparison, LGBTQ+ History Month is about highlighting the history and achievements of LGBTQ+ people. According to GLAAD, a non-profit organization focused on LGBTQ+ advocacy, “during the early years, the celebration was largely marked by a call to action and commemoration. But since then, LGBT History Month has blossomed into a national coordinated effort to highlight exemplary role models from the LGBT community. Since 2006, this push has so far been led by LGBT rights and education organization Equality Forum.”
New Jersey has a rich LGBTQ+ history, with many noteworthy celebrities and activists having done so much to further LGBTQ+ advocacy. One example is Hilda Hidalgo. While Hidalgo was not born in Newark, Hidalgo had an impact on the city due to her work as a professor at Rutgers-Newark. Hidalgo was an LGBTQ advocate who “worked tirelessly to combat the perception of homosexuality as a psychiatric disorder” and was the lead editor and co-author of the book Lesbian and gay issues: A resource manual for social workers. She identified as a lesbian and her political efforts were “motivated by the needs of LGBT+ people of color.” After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Hidalgo moved to Florida and joined the LGBT advocacy group Equality Florida Council, continuing her political efforts until she passed away in 2009.
Another high-profile activist from New Jersey was Marsha P. Johnson, born in Elizabeth, NJ. Johnson was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front and was an advocate for “homeless LGBTQ+ youth, those affected by H.I.V. and AIDS, and gay and transfender rights.” During the 1969 Stonewall raid, Johnson was on the frontlines. In a later interview, Johnson noted, “the place was already on fire, and there was a raid already. The riots had already started.” Following the events at Stonewall Inn, Johnson helped lead a series of protests to further the gay rights movement, trying to make sure that transgender and LGBTQ+ people of color were not excluded from the movement. In a 1972 interview, Johnson said her ambition was “to see gay people liberated and free and to have equal rights that other people have in America.” In 1990, Johnson was diagnosed with HIV and spoke about it in 1992 interviews, telling people not to be afraid of those with HIV. About a month after those interviews, Joohnson’s body was found in the Hudson River, and the police ruled it as suicide, despite her friends suspecting it to be foul play. Johnson’s legacy still lives on, and in 2020, it was announced that a public monument would be dedicated to her in her hometown of Elizabeth, NJ, near the city hall. It was “anticipated to be the first public monument in the State of New Jersey to honor a LGBTQ+ person and transgender woman of color,” according to Union County.
In recent years, singer Halsey, who is from Edison, NJ, has also advocated for the LGBTQ+ community. Halsey identifies as bisexual and has used her platform to speak up for the LGBTQ+ community. This past summer, Halsey also partnered with Hard Rock Live to perform three shows in Florida, Indiana, and California, with all proceeds going towards the two LGBTQ+ organizations, Outright International, and Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
In the Hoboken area, there are several organizations that provide resources for the LGBTQ+ community, such as Hudson Pride Center in Jersey City. It provides services such as “career development, HIV treatment education, transgender support groups, special events, and more.” There are also on-campus resources students are encouraged to utilize such as the Office of Student Culture and Belonging.
Overall, New Jersey has a rich LGBTQ+ history that is worth looking into. The work and activism of people in the past and present have helped foster a community that can provide support to the LGBTQ+ community.
