Tyreke McIver ITA Public Affairs Director
June is Pride Month in America! This annual event celebrates the vitality and progress made by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) people throughout history. It is also an important opportunity to honor their sacrifices and reaffirm our support for the LGBTQI+ community and allies to create a more equal, inclusive and tolerant world together.
June is significant in American LGBTQI+ history for many reasons. The roots of the modern LGBTQ rights movement in the United States are rooted in the historic Stonewall Uprising in New York City on June 28, 1969, when patrons stood up for fair and equal treatment in the face of discrimination. It was a watershed moment that changed the public conversation about equality in the United States and paved the way for the LGBTQI+ rights movement.
On June 26, 2015, some 46 years later, the U.S. Supreme Court enshrined marriage equality into federal law in Obergefell v. Hodges. That day will be forever etched in my memory because I first heard the news on public radio while I was working for the State Department, en route to the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. I remember tears of joy and pride streaming down my face as the words “Love is Love” hit the airwaves, and I asked the driver to turn up the volume. It was a major victory for the United States, demonstrating the country’s ability to make progress in upholding human rights and equality for Americans — and the world was watching (or listening).
Through the courage and steadfastness of trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson, Byrne Rustin, James Baldwin, Sally Ride, and Harvey Milk, who used their voices to champion our nation’s progress, they and countless others helped us achieve the unprecedented acceptance, expanded economic opportunity, and equality we now enjoy. Yet, the harsh reality is that many of our friends, neighbors, children, and coworkers still face discrimination simply because of who we are and who we love. We have much work to do, and many more uncomfortable conversations to have, to ensure that future generations, especially those in the transgender community, can live authentically and without fear—in their homes, schools, places of worship, and workplaces.
As an openly gay African American cisgender male, I am honored to work in an administration that supports and respects diversity in all its forms. It is because of authentic allies and supportive LGBTQI+ colleagues that I can confidently fly my pride flag professionally every day of the year. As a special personal gift this month, on June 15, I will celebrate my six-month wedding anniversary with my husband!
As Pride Month celebrations begin, I encourage you to celebrate wherever you are by attending a local event, parade, picnic, or simply showing your support to those in need. You may want to learn more about LGBTQI+ history through Smithsonian Pride Resources Or visit LGBTQ+ Museums in the United StatesFrom the arts to sciences to finance to politics, the LGBTQI+ community has much to celebrate and makes a significant contribution to building a stronger, more inclusive society. Happy Pride everyone!
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.