the mother Brenda Howard was born on December 24th, 1946 in the Bronx. She graduated with an AAS degree in Nursing from the Borough of Manhattan Community College. She became an anti-war activist and a feminist after realizing the fact that men have a higher influence over this field.
This march was one of the first LGBT parades in the country and was organized by Howard, a bisexual and polyamorous woman. She also thought of holding week-long festivities for the LGBT march, which later became the worldwide LGBT Pride festivities we see today. She and two other activists are known for calling this “Pride”.
Howard’s passion for LGBT advocacy bloomed when her friends were involved in a riot. In the 1960s, LGBT+ people were not allowed into most bars due to police retaliation. The Stonewall Inn, however, was an exception. Stonewall accepted all kinds of people. The police, aware that LGBT people frequented Stonewall, arrested and charged the owners. On June 28th, 1969, LGBT people rose, sparking 3 days of rioting later known as the Stonewall Riots.
Howard was ready to support anyone who was not given their alienable rights. She was arrested multiple times in her life due to her widely unaccepted perspective. In 1988, she was arrested for protesting for women’s, people of color’s, and people with HIV/AIDS’s right to healthcare. In 1991, she was arrested for protesting against a lesbian’s firing from the state office. Despite this, she continued to fight for what she believed was right.
After the Stonewall Riots, The Christopher Street Liberation Day March was held,during which, LGBT people paraded with pride for their identities.
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of pride
Howard’s work focused on the bisexual community. She co-founded the New York Area Bisexual Network. This organization, which still exists today, allows bisexual people within the area to communicate with one another.
