In June, Pride Month is more than an excuse to don every color of the rainbow. It marks a special time for some members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies to join forces for celebration and advocacy.

Pride Month has been observed for decades. The month was officially recognized when President Bill Clinton designated June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 1999. The commemoration recognizes the LGBTQ+ community, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning.

A Statista poll found that 5.1 percent of Generation X, 3 percent of boomers and 1.8 percent of the silent generation identified as LGBTQ+, as of 2024. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, the LGBTQ+ community has grown over the years, with 7.6 percent of U.S. adults identifying as LGBTQ+.

But despite growing representation, the LGBTQ+ community still faces some challenges.

“Our elder pioneers’ strength and activism, during other extremely difficult times, paved the way for the freedom that we celebrate in this Pride season,” says Michael Adams, CEO of SAGE, the country’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to serving older LGBTQ+ individuals. Jackie Lees, 72, from Asheville, North Carolina, is on the board of directors for Blue Ridge Pride Center and a member of its AARP North Carolina-affiliated Generation Plus Committee – a group dedicated to serving members of the LGBTQ+ community who are 55 and older. She is also transgender. […]