Google Doodles are when Google changes its logo on its homepage to celebrate holidays and other occasions. For this day’s Google Doodle, they’ve changed it to celebrate the 50 years of LGBT+ Pride.
2019 marks the 50th anniversary of when the Stonewall Riots happened, which was at New York City in the late June of 1969. It is believed that this event was what launched the LGBT+ rights movement.
Although there are some disagreements within the LGBT+ community on what exactly happened, it is largely believed that the Stonewall Riot began when the police raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar on Christopher Street in Manhattan, for activities which back then were considered illegal. The usual tale involves a brick being thrown, either by Marsha P Johnson or Sylvia Rivera, which were two key activists in the gay liberation movement. They have now become icons in the transgender rights movement in particular.
Since then, June was celebrated as “Pride Month”, with various cities around the world holding LGBT+ themed events, celebrations, and protests.
The Google Doodle focuses on the celebrations of the LGBT+ people, on the following years after the Stonewall Riots. It also portrays the difficult times, such as the AIDS crisis, which is usually symbolized by the triangle symbol, to urge action when the US government failed to act on the crisis in the 80’s and 90’s.
The Doodler, Nate Swinehart, who is also a member of the LGBT+ community, decided to visualize the LGBT+ history as expansion of the parades that often act as Pride Month’s centerpiece. He states that the Pride parade is a symbol of celebration and liberation for the entire LGBTQ+ Community. He then credits Cynthia Cheng with the idea to focus on the parade for his Doodle art.
“From its early days of activism on Christopher Street in New York City, to the worldwide celebrations of today, it has empowered and given voice to a bright and vibrant community. I have witnessed the strides forward for queer people over the decades, and today, many of us celebrate a level of freedom I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams while I was growing up. I’m hopeful for the future and a day when everyone, regardless of their identification, can stand and march proudly in celebration.”
