June has arrived, and with it comes a sea of rainbow flags, parades, and calls for equity, visibility, and love. Pride Month is more than a celebration—it’s a reminder of resilience, a tribute to struggle, and a vision for a more inclusive future. Across Topeka and beyond, events are scheduled to recognize the LGBTQ+ community’s contributions, culture, and continued fight for equal rights.
A Brief History of Pride Month
Pride Month traces its origins back to the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City’s Greenwich Village. The bar’s patrons—primarily transgender women of color, drag performers, and unhoused queer youth—fought back. What followed were days of demonstrations now known as the Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal moment in the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
In the years that followed, annual marches and events commemorated the uprising, evolving into what we now call Pride. The first Pride march took place in New York City in June 1970, and by the 1980s and 1990s, cities across the U.S. had joined in. In 1999, President Bill Clinton officially recognized June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, and in 2011, President Barack Obama expanded the proclamation to honor the entire LGBTQ+ community.
Pride in Kansas
Kansas has a complicated history when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights. While progress has been made—including the 2019 Supreme Court decision that protects LGBTQ+ workers from discrimination and growing local support for LGBTQ+ youth—challenges remain. In recent years, Kansas lawmakers have introduced and passed legislation targeting transgender rights, especially in schools and sports. These legislative battles have left many in the LGBTQ+ community feeling vulnerable.
But there is strength in community.
Topeka’s own Pride events, including Top City Pride Fest, have grown into major celebrations of identity and inclusion. This year’s Pride events are expected to draw large crowds, featuring live music, drag performances, educational panels, and safe spaces for queer youth and allies. Local businesses are showing support with themed menus, storefront displays, and fundraising for LGBTQ+ nonprofits.
Why Pride Still Matters
Pride isn’t just about parades and parties. It’s a time to honor the trailblazers—people like Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk, and Sylvia Rivera—while recognizing that the fight is far from over. Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and violence remain a national issue. Trans women, especially Black and brown trans women, face disproportionately high rates of violence. In many states, including Kansas, affirming healthcare and gender-inclusive policies are still politically contested.
Celebrating Pride means more than waving a flag. It means showing up, speaking out, and standing beside the LGBTQ+ community—at the ballot box, in the workplace, in schools, and in our homes.
How to Get Involved in Topeka
- Top City Pride Fest: June 22 at Evergy Plaza — live performances, vendors, speakers, and a drag show finale.
- Pride Night at the Zoo: June 15, a family-friendly event supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion.
- Topeka Pride March: June 29, meet at 10th & Kansas Ave.
- Volunteer with LGBTQ+ organizations like Topeka Pride, Kansas Youth Empowerment Academy, or Equality Kansas.
- Support LGBTQ+-owned businesses or donate to LGBTQ+ mental health organizations.
Whether you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, Pride Month is an invitation to reflect on where we’ve been, acknowledge where we are, and help build where we’re going.
Happy Pride, Topeka
