Dear members of the campus community,
When we think of civil rights, we often focus on the images of the 1950s, ‘60s, and ’70s involving African Americans or the United Farm Workers and Cesar Chavez. One group that is often overlooked in regards to civil rights is the LGBTQ community.
June begins Pride month. This is the month we honor our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, and other family members who belong to the LGBTQ community. However, June 2020 is unlike any other Pride month from past years. We have civil unrest in our country and we are in the midst of a global pandemic.
For our brothers and sisters who are members of the LGBTQ community, their civil rights movement began when the harassment by police in New York City’s Greenwich Village reached a boiling point. During this time it was illegal for members of the LGBTQ community to socialize and display affection towards each other. When they did socialize in public venues, it was considered disorderly conduct and law enforcement would harass patrons or shut down businesses that served alcohol in these social settings. The constant harassment by law enforcement escalated to riots between police and members of the LGBTQ community. The incidents became known as the Stonewall Riots.
These uprisings galvanized the LGBTQ community into political activism. Unfortunately, we are experiencing similar violence that spawned civil rights activism. We must be mindful of the systemic oppression of marginalized people in this country and focus on building diverse and inclusive communities.
Thank you.
Ainsley Thomas
Chief Diversity Officer
Published: Thu, 04 Jun 2020 12:20:05 +0000 by a.thomas1