Current pride flags. Harvey Milk commissioned artist Gilbert Baker in 1978 to create a flag for the gay community, sensing a void for a symbol that would unify the gay community.
The U.S. Department of State issued an unusual “Worldwide Caution” alert on Friday, in which it warned Americansof an increased risk of terrorist violence at gay pride celebrations.
The alert comes two weeks ahead of Pride Month, a period during which numerous celebrations and commemoration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and culture.
Gay Pride Day, which falls on the last Sunday of June, celebrates the first Gay Pride March in 1970, which followed by one year the Stonewall Uprising, a series of riots in New York City for gay liberation that took place over several days beginning on June 28, 1969. Eventually, the month of June began to become known as Pride Month. Some other cities celebrate Gay Pride Day on a different day.
The State Department warning comes on the heels of a similar joint public announcement made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security in which the two agencies warned of potential foreign terrorist violence against LGBT events and venues. It also came one day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken marked the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia.
“Even as more countries make meaningful advancements towards full equality, LGBTQI+ (sic) persons continue to be sentenced to death for daring to live their sexual orientation or gender identity, subjected to coercive conversion ‘therapies’ and ‘normalization’ surgeries, discriminated against while receiving health services, restricted from exercising fundamental freedoms, and denied the dignity of same-sex partnership and fulfillment of family,” Blinken said in a statement.
The warning urged individuals living or visiting overseas to exercise increased caution due to “the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ (sic) persons and events.”
The advisory, which did not mention specific threats or targets, said that people should remain alert in tourist areas and places frequented by LGBT people.
(Photo: Accura Media Group)
All Rights Reserved Travel