June 19th is Juneteenth, which commemorates the abolition of enslavement in Texas and celebrates African American freedom and achievement. Learn more about
Juneteenth events in Portland.
June 20th is World Refugee Day, which raises awareness about refugees throughout the globe.
On June 26th, 2015, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in the United States.
June is Pride Month
In June of 1969, the Stonewall Inn, a popular LGBTQ+ bar in New York City, was raided by the police. During that time period, it was illegal to have same-sex physical relationships in every state other than Illinois. Police departments throughout the country frequently went into LGBTQ+ gathering places and arrested the inhabitants.
On this occasion, the patrons at Stonewall resisted arrest, and a scuffle broke out. What followed was five days of protests by activists against unjust treatment by the police. This event, referred to as the Stonewall uprising, is considered the start of the modern movement for gay rights.
From the Oregon Department of Education:
Every year, in the month of June, the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community celebrates Pride Month. While including positive representations of LGBT history and people in the curriculum is most effective when it is regular practice, June provides an opportunity to connect topics with current events and celebrations.
GLSEN’s National School Climate Survey consistently finds that students with inclusive curricula have a greater sense of belonging to their school community, hear fewer homophobic remarks, and are less likely to be victimized or feel unsafe at school than those without inclusive curriculum. Including LGBT topics in your classroom year-round helps make a school a safer place for all students.
