‘Pride Month’ Goes Way Beyond Our Infamous Parades!
A note from Rev. Dr. Aliah MaJon, Chief Inclusion Officer for The Shift Network:
First off, let me introduce myself again, but this time as a Black, Same-Gender-Loving Woman, who has been “out” since the middle of the 1970s (that’s right, I’m literally a grandmother!). Why am I starting with this different introduction today during Pride Month? Because I want you to know that this particular offering is near and dear to me because of who I am. But also because people have sometimes thought of the LGBTQ+ experience in a one-dimensional manner. Which I chuckle at because I understand, and have personally lived, witnessed, and done research about the tremendous breadth and depth and width and length the LGBTQ+ experience is all about. So I invite you to consider this: How could something with that many letters not be expansive and ever-changing — the letters themselves have proven their evolutionary nature as new initials get added and new identity expressions keep coming to light!
This section for this issue is focused on celebrating Pride Month and the marking of the 51st anniversary of what has mostly been called Gay Pride as well as the 52nd anniversary of the Stonewall Riot. To that end, I wish to share with you a sampling of how rich and powerful that people like me have been in terms of catalyzing progress, breaking down barriers, making tremendous contributions to society, and, my personal favorite, showing the world that “love is love.”
Make sure to click through to anything that peaks your interest. You will find history and sports and politics and social justice and the arts and creative endeavors and even family values. Check out the videos and the articles, and take in the faces of any of the individuals that you see here. There is so much that I could have included in this piece, but there wasn’t enough space. Get inspired and do your own research to see what else you might learn and, hopefully, we can salute, come to appreciate, be moved by, and enjoy what’s here together. LGBTQ+ folks are colorful, and a sometimes completely out-of-the-box community. The rainbow flag is a good descriptor of our variety and playfulness and our quest to be fully alive. Happy Pride Month!
Transgender activists face tremendous challenges. Witness the story of Marsha P. Johnson, who participated in the Stonewall Uprising and fought for equal rights. Click here to watch this 2-minute video.
With a recent wave of violence against Black, transgender people, activists are demanding those stories be centered in the “Black Lives Matter” movement. NewsHour Weekend’s Ivette Feliciano spoke with Imara Jones, creator of Translash Media, to learn more. Click here to watch this 5-minute video.
In this kid-friendly 4-minute video, comedian and actor Wanda Sykes takes us on a journey all the way back to the Middle Ages to get to know a little bit about the fight for equality.
Dragon Dads is a group of religious fathers who shower their LGBTQ children with love and support. Click here to watch this 7-minute video segment from Today about Mormon dads who support their LGBTQ kids.
Here are 26 gay people in history you should know about. It’s been a long road to the Pride Parade. Click here to watch this slide show.
Meet the 10 Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual members of the 116th Congress.A historic number of LGBTQ people were sworn into the 116th U.S. Congress — two in the U.S. Senate and eight in the House of Representatives. This “rainbow wave” of politicians joins the most diverse Congress ever, which includes over 100 women, over 50 black members, 39 Hispanic members, two Native American women, and two Muslim women.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib makes history by coming out as the first openly gay active NFL player. In fact, no openly gay player has ever actively participated in any of the four major sports — baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Click here to watch this 4-minute video segment from Good Morning America.
