LGBT Pride Month, observed in June, is celebrated around the U.S. with parades and activism events. At the same time, many people do not know Pride Month's origin, which honors the 1969 Stonewall riots--a demonstration which blazed the trail for activists across the country.

In 1970, the first Gay Pride marches took place in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. There has been a lot of progress since then, but LGBT advocates are still working toward a future without discrimination in the workplace and beyond.

"When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free." - Barack Obama.

"We should indeed keep calm in the face of difference, and live our lives in a state of inclusion and wonder at the diversity of humanity."- George Takei

"If we’re destroying our trees and destroying our environment and hurting animals and hurting one another and all that stuff, there’s got to be a very powerful energy to fight that. I think we need more love in the world. We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that." - Ellen DeGeneres