Written By: Neuf N. at Foster City Library
Pride Month is a time to honor the courage, resilience and impact of the LGBTQ+ community. The Bay Area has a rich history as a center for LGBTQ+ rights and activism. Our region is home to pioneering advocates whose groundbreaking work continues to inspire movements for equality worldwide. This June, we celebrate some of the trailblazers who made history—and show you how to discover their stories with San Mateo County Libraries.
Daughters of Bilitis
In 1955, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon helped found the Daughters of Bilitis in San Francisco, which became America's first lesbian rights organization. The group created safe spaces for lesbians to gather and launched The Ladder magazine in 1956, the first publication to reach lesbians nationwide and advocate for their civil rights. For years, Martin and Lyon were pioneering voices who argued that gay people deserved constitutional rights and should organize politically. Their work helped lay the foundation for the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and their personal love story culminated when they became the first same-sex couple to marry during San Francisco's "Winter of Love" in 2004.
José Julio Sarria
José Julio Sarria was a proud San Franciscan, World War II veteran and trailblazing LGBTQ+ activist. In 1961, he became the first openly gay person to run for public office in the U.S., helping spark the early LGBTQ+ rights movement. As a performer at the Black Cat Café, he used humor and song to bring people together and promote pride in the community. Sarria also founded important organizations like the Imperial Court System, which now spans cities across North America. His legacy of courage and activism is honored through memorials, awards and a campaign for a U.S. postage stamp in his name.
Harvey Milk
Harvey Milk was a groundbreaking leader and one of the first openly gay elected officials in the U.S., joining the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977. He spoke out for LGBTQ+ rights and worked to build a more equal and inclusive community. Though his life was cut short in 1978, his legacy lives on through his activism and the laws he helped shape.
Pride Events
At San Mateo County Libraries, we remember these visionaries by creating welcoming, safe spaces for everyone and sharing stories that inspire courage, inclusion and change. Whether you're seeking historical accounts, contemporary fiction by LGBTQ+ authors, digital resources and databases or simply a place to belong, San Mateo County Libraries opens doors to collections, programs and connections that celebrate the courage and resilience that define Pride Month year-round. Discover our reading recommendations for Pride month!
All throughout June, we're hosting Pride events at our libraries! Join us for screenprinting, resistance through printmaking and Mexican Folklórico dance.
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