The Radical Agenda may utilize affiliate links for recommended books and resources. This means we may earn a small commission from clicks or purchases through those links at no cost to you. We only recommend products and services we believe in. All opinions shared are entirely our own. Thank you for supporting The Radical Agenda!
When Is Pride Month?
Pride Month is in June! On June 28, 1969, when police raided the Stonewall Inn (a popular gay bar) and hit a lesbian woman while trying to force her into a police car. The result was a full uprising of the queer community against the police officers. The Stonewall Uprising lasted three days and caused millions of dollars in damages. Pride Month grew out of an annual remembrance of the violence against queer people.
Why Do We Still Celebrate Pride Month?
It might be 2025, but as a country we have not made much progress towards making society safe for members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Lavender Scare in the 1960s left our LGBTQ+ military members without employment, healthcare, or pensions. Hate crimes towards the LGBTQ+ community made national headlines with the murder of Mathew Shepard in 1998, but have not been eradicated. Even today, Black trans women are statistically the highest at risk for hate crimes. In early 2025 we learned the devastating and disturbing accounts of the torture of Sam Nordquist, a Black transgender man from New York.
And this year, in the middle of Pride Month, the Trump administration demanded that trans military members self-identify and leave the military.
We need Pride Month. We need the reminders that the LGBTQ+ community is here, active, and beautiful. We need safe spaces for them to celebrate what makes them unique. We need to be louder than the hate, and push back on the crimes and homophobia that they encounter on a daily basis. To be an ally is to stand with them, fighting for their rights and helping to remove hurdles that hold them back from the successes that are easier for straight and cisgendered people.
The Trevor Project conducts surveys on an annual basis to learn more about the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2024, they learned that children who lived in affirming communities were significantly less likely to attempt to end their lives. Being a safe person for someone in the LGBTQ+ community is literally life-saving.
As a mom, I don’t know what my children will grow up to be, but I do know that my home is a safe and welcoming place for whoever they are. My hope is that they will grow up knowing that kind of acceptance and share it with others as naturally as they have experienced it in our home.
Beware of Pride-Washing Companies
One thing to watch out for is Pride-Washing. You might have heard of “green-washing,” a practice by some companies to attempt appearing as if they are an intentionally environmentally conscious group, when in reality they use the same practices as every other company. Pride-washing is the same thing, where companies will change their logos to rainbows during June, maybe donate some money to LGBTQ+ causes, and then BAM! July 1 hits and everything goes back to their regular programs, including some practices or policies that are harmful to the queer community.
As much as possible, I would encourage you to seek out Queer-Owned businesses for your products and services, rather than rely on big companies with less-than-stellar reputations. Check out the website EverywhereIsQueer to find listings of queer-owned shops for a whole variety of needs.
Do you need Queer Resources?
PFLAG – Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Children’s Picture Books for Pride Month
There are so many good books about queer Americans! And while I’m always finding new books and continue to learn every day, here are some of our favorite children’s books for Pride Month.
Note: The Radical Agenda believes in supporting independent bookstores over big box stores, so we share book links using Bookshop.org. Click on the picture to order your copy of the books that catch your eye, and thank you for supporting small businesses around the country!
Stonewall: A Building, An Uprising, A Revolution by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Jamey Christoph
This is an absolute must-read for any child when talking about why Pride Month matters. Told from a unique perspective, this book appropriately describes the discrimination queer people faced and how they stood together to stop hate.
A Song for the Unsung: Bayard Rustin, the Man Behind the 1963 March on Washington by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob Sanders, illustrated by Byron McCray
We loved learning about Bayard Rustin so much! The 1963 March on Washington was such a pivotal moment in American history, and learning that the “I have a dream” speech would not have happened without the planning a diligence of Bayard Rustin was very special.
Strong by Rob Kearney and Eric Rosswood, illustrated by Nidhi Chanani
My kids and I really enjoyed learning about Strongman Rob Kearney. I thought the message of this book was beautiful as well, as Rob gained his confidence in Strongman competitions by embracing his colorful side and being confident in who he is.
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Steven Salerno
Harvey Milk believed that everyone should belong, and he worked with artist Gilbert Baker to create a flag that represented everyone.
Sewing the Rainbow: The Story of Gilbert Baker and the Rainbow Flag by Gayle Pitman, illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown
Harvey Milk might have been remembered as helping to create the rainbow flag, but he didn’t do it alone. Learn the story of Gilbert Baker, the artist who took the idea and made it something beautiful.
Sylvia and Marsha Start a Revolution! by Joy Michael Ellison, illustrated by Teshika Silver
Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson became friends when they were young and then became advocates for the queer community in New York.
The Mover of a Movement: Jeanne Manford, Ally, Activist, and Founder of PFLAG by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Sam Kalda
When Jeanne Manford’s son Morty came out to her as a gay man, Jeanne didn’t just accept him, she created a whole organization to help other parents and families support and advocate for their LGBTQ+ kids. She is the founder of PFLAG, which stands for “Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.”
Queer and Fearless: Poems Celebrating the Lives of LGBTQ+ Heroes by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Harry Woodgate
As a general rule of thumb, any time I wish to read books about queer Americans, I find a book by Rob Sanders. This anthology of stories told in poetic prose is a must-read, and a beautiful book to keep in your personal collection as a reference.
The Fighting Infantryman: The Story of Albert D.J. Cashier, Transgender Civil War Soldier, by Rob Sanders, illustrated by Nabi Ali
As a former Civil War reenactor, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Albert D.J. Cashier. While there have been many recorded stories of women dressing as men to fight for the Union, only Albert continued to live as a man for the rest of his life.
Read about Albert D.J. Cashier and his bravery in battle and in life here.
