Hi Friend,

June is Pride Month, and around the world the LGBTQ+ community and allies are celebrating in a variety of ways. LCV is proud to stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ family and members, and to recognize their ongoing work in the fight for equality.

Did you know that Pride celebrations as we know them originated after the Stonewall riots in 1969? Fed up with police brutality, homophobic laws, harassment, and targeted attacks, LGBTQ+ guests at the Stonewall Inn in New York City, who were predominantly trans women of color, fought back — resulting in four nights of rioting.

In commemoration of those who fought for their rights at Stonewall and their spirit of resilience, the first Pride march took place one year later in Central Park. The marches spread into different parts of the country throughout the 1970s, until Pride became the massive celebration that we know today.
 

At LCV, we are dedicated to a just and equitable environmental movement, and the interconnected issues that impact the health and safety of all communities. There is no climate justice without social justice, racial justice, and a democracy where everyone can participate fully without fear.

On June 24, 2016, President Obama designated the Stonewall Inn and nearby Christopher Park as the Stonewall National Monument — the first-ever national park site to commemorate the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Queer activists led this effort, with support from allies including LCV and the environmental movement, who mobilized public support for using presidential authority under the Antiquities Act to preserve places and civil rights landmarks that tell a more complete history of our nation.

Thanks to the activists who have dedicated their lives to protecting and advancing the rights of their communities, equal rights have improved dramatically since the 1960s — but there is still a long way to go. The fight against homophobia, transphobia, housing and employment discrimination, healthcare inequalities, racial injustices, and other injustices facing the LGBTQ+ community are continuous battles that we must acknowledge, consider, and continue to stand up for.

As LCV members, we know that you understand the importance of this work and the fight ahead, and we hope you'll join us in celebrating Pride.

Sincerely,
LCV Membership Team

P.S. If you'd like to learn more about Pride, the Stonewall Riots, or the LGBTQ+ community please check out the following resources:

• • Article: Stonewall at 50: Remembering Importance of Riots, Pride and Visibility
  • Article: Why Queer Liberation Is an Environmental Justice Issue
  • Article: How LGBTQ Pride Month became a branded holiday
  • Film: The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson - Netflix