Joico’s Feeling Pride Today…🌈

FEELING THE PRIDE

As the haircare company that’s all about joi, Pride Month packs a powerful punch. In fact, we can think of no better time to celebrate the importance of living a life of freedom and authenticity; of honoring those we love; and sharing the many beautiful voices in our industry. Today, we’re taking a look at just some of the most influential moments in history that helped shape the Pride movement; and hearing what it means to a few of Joico’s treasured team members.

Moments in the history of Pride…

In the 1930s… “the gay bar [had] emerged as the central institution of queer life, serving as a social center and ‘crucible for politics.’” These nightlife venues often acted as “underground safe spaces” for gays and lesbians, who could not meet in the open light of day during a time when awareness, visibility, and acceptance were anathema to the majority of American society and its institutions.

In the early 1950s… Gay and lesbian groups started to organize as an answer to discrimination faced by government employees and members of the military losing their posts; and even being subject to FBI investigations and police entrapment in the shadow of the Red Scare sweeping the nation and its politics.

In May 1965… ECHO (East Coast Homophile Organizations) picketed at what turned out to be five “Annual Reminder Days” (reminder that gays and lesbians still lacked basic rights); and these, in turn, “…were the rock on which Gay Pride events were built.”

In June 1969… Stonewall Riots occur in New York City, starting on June 28th “…a simple bar raid backfired into a five-night melee during which queers beat the cops back into the very bar they’d [raided and] tried to clear…” Though not the start of “gay liberation,” (e.g., 1966 S.F. – Compton’s Cafe, 1968 L.A. – Black Cat Tavern, 1968 Chi. – Trip Gay Bar) this event served as the story that catalyzed a movement with a sense of solidarity nationwide for gay rights.

June 28, 1970… Commemorated the first anniversary to the Stonewall Riots with the first Christopher Street Liberation Day March (part of a week-long Gay Pride celebration in New York City). In a collaborative effort in Los Angeles, “Christopher Street West” followed suit, thanks to a last-minute court approval amid the L.A. police chief’s attempts to block the event.

In the 1980’s… The AIDS crisis was another watershed moment in the gay community, leading to the “…creation of… organizations such as Gay Men’s Health Crisis and ACT UP – both of which spearheaded change in discriminatory health services and related laws in “relationship recognition;” and, ultimately, setting the stage for the marriage equality movement.

In 2015… The Supreme Court holds that the U.S. Constitution requires recognition of same-sex marriage nationwide (Obergefell v. Hodges).

With so much LGBTQ+ history – this is only a smattering of the beginnings and highlights of LGBTQ+ rights and visibility movements in the U.S.

To learn more, here are some resources:

• “ONE Archives Foundation,” ONE Archives Foundation – The Independent, Community-Partner of ONE Archives at the USC Libraries
• “ONE Archives at the USC Libraries,” ONE Archives | National Gay & Lesbian Archives at the USC Libraries
• GLAAD, Resources | GLAAD
• HRC, Resources – Human Rights Campaign (hrc.org)
• We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation (book by Matthew Rimer, Leighton Broan)
• The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. The United States of America (book by Eric Cervini)
• gbtqhistory.org
• GLSEN, LGBTQ History | GLSEN

Joico voices on Pride…

“We have come so far, but there is still so much work to do! I am incredibly proud to be part of such an amazing company that embraces us for who we are. Pride for me is not a one-month celebration, but a matter of how I carry myself every day!” – Brandy Shelton, Joico Artistic Educator

“I feel that being a part of the LGBTQ+ community has made me a more compassionate, understanding, and empathetic individual…to help any one person to feel amazing on the inside and out.” – Kyle Miller, Joico Master Artist

“Being queer in the beauty world has given my artistry a safe home to be celebrated, welcomed, and received. But the best part of my life in the world of hair is what I get to do – and that is, to meet individuals who touch my heart and vice-versa. So many queer individuals have become some of my best clients, and even part of my family.” – Brandon Corbitt, Joico Master Artist

“When I was young, Pride was the day I could be free to celebrate myself authentically and not be judged. But it’s gotten bigger, and we’re even seeing marches instead of parades – it’s education that we need more of. Today, as a mature gay man, Pride is still a reminder. And what I love is that now everybody’s on board to celebrate freedom of expression…if you’re colorful, it’s okay to acknowledge it. Pride is no longer just about gay people.” – Marky “Flava” Martinez, Joico “transformer,” fitness superstar, life coach, and international drag-queen sensation

Must-watch video! @flavatheartist celebrates Pride with our Henkel family…

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Article source material:
Matthew Rimer, Leighton Broan, We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation (2019), 58, 71, 92.
Eric Cervini, The Deviant’s War: The Homosexual vs. The United States of America (2020), 68.
Cervini, Deviant’s War, 115, 201.
David Cole, Engines of Liberty: How Citizen Movements Succeed (2016), 19, 237.