Reno gay pride parade
June is pride month. Here's why Reno's parade won't happen until September
June is Pride Month in the United States. The federal government declared June as "Gay & Lesbian Identity festival Month" in 1999 under President Bill Clinton. The month was expanded to "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month" by President Barack Obama in 2009.
However, Pride Month dates assist several decades before it was "officially" recognized by the government. The first Pride march was held in New York Metropolis on June 28, 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising.
Here's a look at why we celebrate Pride Month, what Pride Month's theme is for 2025, and why Reno's pride celebration isn't until September.
What is Pride Month celebrating?
In the early hours of June 28, 1969, New York City police officers raided the now historic queer bar, Stonewall Inn. In New York at the time, homosexuality was considered a criminal offense, and it wouldn't be until 1980 that "same-sex relationships" were decriminalized in the state. At the period, Stonewall Inn was owned by the mafia, who didn't care about its clientele and often tipped off law enforcement to "illegal" practices, according to t
Pride
The University of Nevada, Reno supports Pride!
The University of Nevada, Reno and the Associated Students of the University of Nevada are arrogant to be a part of Event in Reno. Event is both a time of reflection and celebration for LGBTQIA+ identities and the stories they bring to our community.
Whether you are a part of the LGBTQIA+ group or an ally, we want you to know that Pride is for you. It is our belief that we all demand each other to build and sustain a strong group. Join the Pack for the celebration and festival and help us illustrate how our institution welcomes and affirms the identities of all people at the University of Nevada and the community.
Pride apparel and gear
Wear Pride-related apparel and Wolf Pack gear. The Nevada Wolf Shop has a selection of great Pride gear. If you would like to symbolize your campus nonprofit, club or affiliation, feel free to do so.
Find more information about the Northern Nevada Self-acceptance Parade and Festival here. For questions about the University's involvement with Identity festival, please contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
The Reno Gay Pride Festival
The Reno Gay Pride Festival has been celebrating diversity and equality for two decades. The past festivals have taken place in Wingfield Park. This urban park is primarily an events place that is located partly in the Truckee River. Having an amphitheater with a large grassy lawn made this park great house to the Reno Gay Celebration Festival.
The festival grew in attendance each year making huge advances in spreading an inclusive soul and developing acceptance of the community.
Dozens of unique vendors packed the sidelines of the Reno Gay Pride Festival showcasing their products and services.
The festival's activities naturally accentuate the gay and lesbian community's diversity, however everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the activities.
The official host for accommodations of the festival was Harrah's Reno.
Queer history is Reno history—from internationally established events like the Reno Gay Rodeo to the establishment of local institutions like Our Center, the Silver Dollar Court, and any number of homosexual bars and clubs.
However, centuries of pervasive homophobia and legal discrimination contain kept much of Northern Nevada’s homosexual history out of the public eye. But in September, which is when our area celebrates Northern Nevada Lgbtq+ fest, we’re spotlighting a few historical milestones with the support of some locals—a scholar, an activist, a publisher and a volunteer.
This timeline draws on insights from Jeffery Auer, creator of the Nevada LGBT Archive; Paco Lachoy, founder of the Reno Gay Pagenewspaper; Meredith Tanzer, who works in Northern Nevada HOPES’ generosity department and is a co-director of Northern Nevada Pride; and Janet Mackie, a volunteer for Our Center whose work on chronicling the LGBTQ+ history of Nevada spurred the RN&R to create this timeline.
This list is by no means comprehensive, but in the service of sharing the accurate history of Northern Nevada, it’s a start.
Precolonial era
Actual historical records are sparse,