Today, many Satanists join those celebrating the anniversary of the riots which ignited societal change towards accepting LGBTQ individuals as part of society—to no longer being subject to legal imprisonment and vile exploitation because of their sexual orientation. The Church of Satan’s philosophy accepted all forms of human sexuality between consenting adults from its inception in 1966—one of the few organized religions at the time to take that stance. Satanists consider pride, individualism, and liberty to be fundamental to our philosophy. Then as now, we embrace many who were stigmatized as being outsiders, championing the freedom to follow their nature without shame or hindrance.

Stonewall became a flashpoint, a revolution in altering global consciousness in progressive nations so that what had been underground by necessity needed no longer to be hidden for fear of legal reprisals. While it was a significant event based on earlier efforts, 50 years later we have seen a gradual evolution with the removal of homosexuality from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1974 to the SCOTUS decision in 2015 to legalize same sex marriage throughout the USA. This has been a slow course.

Today, we still see members of Abrahamic religions attempting legislation which would allow them to discriminate against LGTBQ individuals based on their faith-based primitive beliefs. It should not be forgotten that theists continue to foster the persecution and execution of such people in many countries, and that trans individuals in particular are subject to virulent discrimination and assault, even in countries such as the USA that have moved forward, however incrementally.

The battle is far from over, but the resistance to being downtrodden has worked diligently for the progress that has been achieved. So, I and many others salute the courage and tenacity of those who will not accept subjugation by the dominion of the intolerant.

Here’s to Pride, Liberty and Individualism!

—Magus Peter H. Gilmore

For those Satanists who wish to join in the celebration, please feel free to share our graphic: