Parades may have been replaced by picnics, but there are still many reasons to celebrate this Pride Month. Since last June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sex discrimination protections under Title VII extend to LGBTQ employees, a handful of states passed “gay/trans panic” defense bans, and a record number of LGBTQ candidates were elected to office.
And while we can’t pack the streets in celebration, there are other ways to celebrate Pride Month. Many cities have a calendar of Pride events that are happening in the area, there are fiction and non-fiction books for children and adults, and there are movies and TV shows that highlight LGBTQ stories.
But while the nation celebrates, there is still much work to be done. LGBTQ communities continue to experience discrimination. This past year has shown us that the transgender community is especially vulnerable:
- Rachel Levine, the Assistant Secretary for Health and the first openly transgender federal official, was subject to transphobic remarks while she served as Pennsylvania’s health secretary
- 2020 was the deadliest year on record for transgender individuals
Celebrations in June must translate to activism in July. There are organizations to donate to, legislation to support/oppose, and strategies for being an ally to LGBTQ youth.
“Rights are won only by those who make their voices heard.” – Harvey Milk
