The Library of Congress defines Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month as “celebrations each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan which was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.”

Since that date, hundreds of cities, towns, and states have continued to support the LGBTQIA+ community and celebrate in a variety of ways including parades, art displays, and festivals.

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most local celebrations were canceled last year and many again this year, including the popular PRIDE Parade in Portland.

“We have been monitoring the COVID-19 global pandemic situation closely and in consideration of the still-high case load in Maine, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the in-person pride parade and festival in Portland for 2021,” prideportland.org.

But PRIDE Portland is using Facebook to help people find ways to show their pride at smaller events using their page “Pride Across Maine.”

EqualityMaine, the oldest and largest statewide organization dedicated to creating a fair and just society for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Mainers, also has a list of activities scheduled for this year available on their website: equalitymaine.org/pride.

It’s not too late to find ways to show support; a pride flag or original poster/piece of art displayed at your home is an excellent option for those still avoiding mingling with strangers.

Maine was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2012 and Mainers PRIDE is still strong and growing.