At GrowHealthy, our mission is to help people live their healthiest, happiest life. This is regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. We pride ourselves on our diversity and acceptance of every walk of life. We want to promote tolerance and acceptance not only for cannabis but for all the LGBTQ+ communities, patients, and employees. Please join GrowHealthy in celebrating Pride!    Cannabis and the LGBTQ+ community have been intertwined going back decades. Not only have studies shown that members of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to consume cannabis, but the initial push for medical cannabis legalization in the US came in response to the AIDS epidemic, which disproportionally affected LGBTQ+. The AIDS epidemic hit in the 1980s, and the main epicenter was the LGBTQ+ community in San Francisco. Activists like Dennis Peron and Brownie Mary helped usher in cannabis legalization through their work with AIDS patients in San Francisco during the epidemic.   Modern-day movements for LGBTQ+ rights and cannabis legalization have found success by using education to combat dangerous stereotypes and social stigmas. Coincidentally, in 47 states and D.C., medical cannabis is legal, and in the majority of these states, there are some forms of policies around LGBTQ+-based workplace discrimination. This shows undeniable progress, but the laws protecting LGBTQ+ people and cannabis users need to be at the federal level – our rights shouldn’t depend on where we live.    

History of Pride

Around the world, Pride celebrations take on a variety of forms, from parades to parties and protests to proms. Since the start of the modern LGBTQ+ liberation movement in the 1970s, hundreds of independent Pride events have sprung up in cities worldwide, each distinctly local and generally tied in some way to the foundational Stonewall Riots that took place in June over 50 years ago.

After 52 years of Pride celebrations, these events have become so varied and accessible in many areas that you can usually find a way to celebrate that feels best to you, whether it’s the NYC Pride parade, community forums at the LGBT Center in San Francisco, or the massive crowds that attend World Pride in a different city every two years.

But how did the last half-century of Pride become what it is today? Let’s take a dive into Pride and explore its history and the many faces that celebrate it.

The majority of Pride events are held in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York City on June 28, 1969, which most historians consider to be the birth of the modern LGBTQ+ movement. At the time, police raids on bars catering to LGBTQ+ patrons were common, but that night, some police officers turned violent, and the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back. While historical accounts of the night vary, their response ignited a national firestorm of activism that brought new visibility to the struggle for LGBTQ+ equality. Within weeks, community members quickly organized into activist groups to concentrate efforts on establishing places for LGBTQ+ to be open about their sexual orientation without fear of being arrested.

 

The Many Faces of Pride at GrowHealthy and Beyond

The number and variety of Pride events throughout the country and the world reflect the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community both in the United States and abroad. In the United States, Pride events vary across cities and regions. Local volunteer groups, often with the sponsorship of corporations and local businesses, organize most LGBTQ+ Pride events, and they include a variety of events that cater to different segments of the community.

Within the LGBTQ+ community, there are many different people who identify themselves in diverse ways. The common link is Pride.

Pride is the promotion of the self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of people within the LGBTQ+ community with the common link of being unique individuals coming together to show their Pride.

While the LGBTQ+ community is inclusive of many identities and orientations, the experience is different for everyone; as such, the meaning of Pride, both as an event and as a word, may mean something different for each individual, but, overall, Pride is largely about immersion and acceptance, and Pride Month means celebrating and accepting all people.   Whether the Pride event is to celebrate Black Pride or Trans Pride, it is a strong sense of community that ties everyone together, recognizing that all LGBTQ+ people are a part of a larger, shared experience. It’s a community in which people are accepted and supported by not only people within the LGBTQ+ community but allies as well.   GrowHealthy not only embraces the LGBTQ+ community, but we are also made up of members of this community. We treasure the diversity at GrowHealthy, and we are excited to celebrate all LGTBQ+ persons this June! Happy Pride from GrowHealthy!     

Blog Post Author, Raleigh Brayton

My name is Raleigh Brayton and I am the Retail Operations Project Manager for GrowHealthy. I have been working at GrowHealthy for a year and eight months. During this time I have witnessed the positive impact that our products have on our patients’ lives, the compassion our teams deliver each day and how our company promotes acceptance and inclusivity for everyone who walks into our doors. This June I reflect not only on how proud I am to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community, but also how proud I am to work at such an amazing company.