Hi John,
The connection is clear between Pride and the protests happening worldwide now, where millions of people have taken to the streets to demand justice for Black Americans and an end to police brutality. As Marsha P. Johnson, one of the revolutionaries who rebelled against the police during the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, said, “As long as my people don't have their rights across America, there's no reason for celebration.”
The first Pride march in New York wasn’t the parade we know it to be. It was a protest. The Stonewall Uprising was led by queer and transgender Americans -- largely people of color -- against police raids and brutality, and the laws that purposely sought to incriminate them. And today, as these historic protests continue in cities across the country, I’m reflecting on the fights we’ve won, and the battles for equity that remain ahead.
We have work to do.
At Stony Brook, I’ve served as a proud ally for LGBTQ+ rights on campus, advocating for my students and serving on the steering committee for the University's campus-wide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan. Now, with civil rights continually under attack from Donald Trump and Mike Pence, we need to come together and recommit to defending all of our rights.
In honor of the incredible accomplishments of our LGBTQ+ friends and loved ones, and all those who have fought and are fighting now for a better America, let’s celebrate Pride this year by fighting for what’s right.
In this together,
Nancy
