{{Short description|Neologism and meme about LGBTQ+ activism occurring after Pride Month}} {{Use American English|date=July 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
'''Wrath Month''' is a neologism that generally refers to July, the month after Pride Month. It originated as an Internet meme in 2018.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Brammer |first=John Paul |date=July 5, 2018 |title=After Pride Comes Wrath Month — Here's How to Celebrate |url=https://www.them.us/story/wrath-month-how-to-celebrate |access-date=July 6, 2022 |website=Them.us |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705231123/https://www.them.us/story/wrath-month-how-to-celebrate |url-status=live }}</ref>
==History== "Wrath Month" originated as a Twitter meme in 2018. The term is a play on the seven deadly sins, pride and wrath being two of them. Other Twitter users joked about highlighting months for the remaining deadly sins, including sloth and envy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackman |first=Josh |date=July 2, 2018 |title=July has a brilliant new LGBT name, according to this viral meme |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/07/02/pride-month-welcome-lgbt-wrath-month-viral-meme/ |access-date=July 6, 2022 |website=PinkNews |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705231123/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/07/02/pride-month-welcome-lgbt-wrath-month-viral-meme/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |last=Lenton |first=Patrick |date=July 10, 2018 |title=Junk Explained: What is LGBTIQ Wrath Month And Why Are We So Angry? |url=https://junkee.com/lgbtiq-wrath-month/166851 |access-date=July 6, 2022 |website=Junkee |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705231124/https://junkee.com/lgbtiq-wrath-month/166851 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dockray |first=Heather |date=July 6, 2018 |title=Pride may be over, but here's how to celebrate LGBTQ Wrath month |url=https://mashable.com/article/celebrate-lgbtq-wrath-month |access-date=July 6, 2022 |website=Mashable |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705231123/https://mashable.com/article/celebrate-lgbtq-wrath-month |url-status=live }}</ref> The term came to be used in other contexts, highlighting ongoing issues for the LGBT community during and outside of Pride Month.<ref name="auto1" /><ref name="auto2">{{Cite news |last=Oliveira |first=Anthony |date=July 4, 2018 |title=Pride Month is over. Welcome to LGBTQ Wrath Month. |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pride-month-is-over-welcome-to-lgbtq-wrath-month/2018/07/04/c67305ce-7ee8-11e8-b0ef-fffcabeff946_story.html |access-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-date=November 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129125148/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pride-month-is-over-welcome-to-lgbtq-wrath-month/2018/07/04/c67305ce-7ee8-11e8-b0ef-fffcabeff946_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Usage and analysis ==
The term has been described, in part, as a response to the idea that Pride Month has become increasingly docile, where Wrath Month provides an opportunity to call attention to issues affecting LGBT acceptance and equality.<ref name="auto" /><ref name="auto1" /><ref name="auto2" /> John Paul Brammer, writing for ''Them.us'', introduces his piece on Wrath Month with a criticism of Pride Month's ties to rainbow capitalism.<ref name="auto" /> Patrick Lenton with ''Junkee'' writes that Pride Month is no longer a message of "rebellion and resistance", instead trending towards "acceptance and love". He also criticizes police forces and politicians who pander to LGBT people – only during Pride Month – for support.<ref name="auto1" />
Other sources depict it as a response to what ''Out'' describes as Pride Month's "sense of comradery" dissipating after the month ends.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hinzmann |first=Dennis |date=July 2, 2018 |title=With Pride Month Over, The Internet Suggests We Move On To Wrath Month |url=https://www.out.com/pride/2018/7/02/pride-month-over-internet-suggests-we-move-wrath-month |access-date=July 6, 2022 |website=Out.com |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705231124/https://www.out.com/pride/2018/7/02/pride-month-over-internet-suggests-we-move-wrath-month |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rook |first=Erin |date=July 3, 2022 |title=This Week on LGBTQ Twitter: Prepare for Queer Wrath Month |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/07/week-lgbtq-twitter-prepare-queer-wrath-month/ |access-date=July 6, 2022 |website=LGBTQ Nation |archive-date=July 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706002859/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/07/week-lgbtq-twitter-prepare-queer-wrath-month/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Wrath Month has also been used as a replacement for Pride Month, with a ''Colorado Springs Independent'' opinion piece drawing from the emotions of the Stonewall riots that Pride Month is intended to commemorate. The piece specifically cited solidarity with the ongoing George Floyd protests as one reason the LGBT community should feel angry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Alissa |date=June 30, 2020 |title=Opinion: This is why we called June "Wrath Month" |url=https://www.csindy.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-this-is-why-we-called-june-wrath-month/article_5a21d54a-0dcc-5eaf-8945-7f8e1fdcff36.html |access-date=July 6, 2022 |website=Colorado Springs Indy |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705231124/https://www.csindy.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-this-is-why-we-called-june-wrath-month/article_5a21d54a-0dcc-5eaf-8945-7f8e1fdcff36.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In July 2022, ''Them.us'' began a series titled ''Wrath Month'', describing the month as an "unofficial celebration of LGBTQ+ anger".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Samantha |last2=Rodriguez |first2=Mathew |last3=Burke |first3=Sarah |last4=Sanders |first4=Wren |last5=López |first5=Cáne |last6=Mhloyi |first6=Catherine |last7=Factora |first7=James |last8=Riedel |first8=Samantha |last9=Trykowski |first9=Tyler |date=July 1, 2022 |title=Now That Pride Is Over, Welcome to LGBTQ+ Wrath Month |url=https://www.them.us/story/wrath-month-2022-queer-rage-things-lgbtq-people-hate |access-date=July 6, 2022 |website=Them.us |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705231123/https://www.them.us/story/wrath-month-2022-queer-rage-things-lgbtq-people-hate |url-status=live }}</ref>
== See also ==
* {{annotated link|Gay Shame}}
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:2018 neologisms Category:Pride (LGBTQ culture) Category:Identity politics in the United States Category:Internet memes introduced in 2018 Category:Months Category:Seven deadly sins in popular culture Category:LGBTQ slang