May 8, 2026
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The New Orleans Public Library and Junior League of New Orleans partner to provide monthly period supply kits for free.
Celebrating Pride Month: Reading Recommendations, Activities, Events, and More
Every June, LGBTQAI+ communities across the United States celebrate Pride Month. Now known for joyful celebrations like parades, festivals, and parties, Pride began as a political demonstration. In the early hours of June 28, 1969, violence broke out during a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay nightclub in New York’s Greenwich Village. Raids were common at gay bars at the time, but this one was different.
The 250 patrons inside the bar refused to cooperate, and a crowd quickly formed outside. By the time a police wagon arrived to transport them to the police station, hundreds of people were outside the Stonewall Inn, most in solidarity of the men and women being arrested.
The tension in the crowd came to a boil when an officer hit a handcuffed woman in the head with his baton. The woman fought back, and while reports from the night vary, multiple accounts recall her shouting at the onlookers, asking them why no one was doing anything. From there, the crowd became a mob and the riots officially began.
Though she was never officially identified, many people believe it was Stormé DeLarverie, a biracial, lesbian, drag king from New Orleans.
Now known as the Stonewall Riots, the five days of unrest is widely considered the beginning of the gay rights movement. Across the nation, LGBTQ groups were forming and becoming more vocal, laying the foundation for what would become a decades-long fight for rights. On June 28, 1970 –– the first anniversary of the Stonewall Riots –– the U.S. saw its first Gay Pride marches. In addition to the Christopher Street Liberation Day assembly at the site of the riots, demonstrators marched in Los Angeles and Chicago, starting the tradition that we know today as Pride.
Pride Events
The Library aims to be a safe space for all people, regardless of age, race, sexual or gender identity, or socioeconomic status. We believe in access for everyone, and make it our mission to be a welcoming and helpful place for all. Look for the Library in the 2025 New Orleans Pride Parade, Saturday, June 14, and the Longue Vue House & Garden Family Equality Day on June 1. Staff will be handing out books, limited-edition “read the rainbow” buttons, fans, and more.
Throughout the month, Library locations across the city will also be hosting a wide variety of free Pride-themed events for all ages. From drag queen storytimes to teen hangouts, crafting sessions to author talks, we’ve got something for everyone. Check out our Pride events below, or browse our full programming calendar for even more great, free events this month at events.nolalibrary.org or by downloading the NOLALibrary app.
Pride Reading Recommendations
The Library has dozens of books, movies, and more celebrating the lives, legacies, and impacts of the people who forged the way for equality, and the LGBTQIA individuals and communities still fighting today.
Find suggestions for all ages to read the rainbow this month:
Pride Streaming Recommendations
If you’re looking for something to watch, explore Kanopy’s Pride Collection. From LGBTQ cinema and biographies to relevant histories and current affairs, Kanopy’s streaming collection is a great way to celebrate queer filmmakers and understand more about the issues facing LGBTQIA communities past and present.
Pride Activities
Take & Make Craft Kits
Pick up a craft kit for children to take and make at home. All Library locations have a limited number of craft kits containing an instruction sheet and items to create a craft. New crafts are available on the first Monday of each month. Additional supplies may be required and will be noted on the instruction sheet.
This June, we’re celebrating Pride Month by making stencil art inspired by the work of Jeremy Novy.
Novy is an openly gay street artist who works with stencils, which can be a great tool for creative expression. Using a stencil and playing with color, placement, and different tools, you can create pieces that have the same outline but look very different. Stencils are often used by street artists, as they can be used to create very distinctive artwork that can be placed on walls and streets, creating art that is freely accessible to everyone.
Some of Novy’s most recognizable stencils are his koi fish, which can be seen in different sizes and colors in cities like New Orleans, San Francisco, and New York City. Novy started using koi stencils after traveling and studying in China, where koi are a traditional symbol of good fortune and strength.
Share your creations with us by tagging our social accounts @nolalibrary or email impact@nolalibrary.org.
Take & Make Craft kits are sponsored by the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library.
Exploring Pride History
With gay and lesbian social clubs dating back to the 1940s, New Orleans has a rich LGBTQAI history and culture. The Library’s City Archives & Special Collections holds a robust catalog of historic records, publications, newspapers, and more that can help researchers understand the culture, politics, and social foundation of New Orleans’ queer communities.
Archives staff recommend exploring the below collections this Pride:
To see these and other collections in person, please contact the City Archives & Special Collections staff at 504-596-2610 or archivist@nolalibrary.org.
May 4, 2026
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Since 1957, the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library have been standing up for the Library’s mission through sponsorship, fundraising, and advocacy work.
May 1, 2026
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May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to celebrate, we’re taking a look through our City Archives & Special Collections to honor the history and heritage of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the New Orleans area.