Fifty-two years ago today, an uprising began that would change the
world.
In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall
Inn in New York City. Police raids of gay and lesbian bars like the
Stonewall Inn was common practice in the 1960s – but this time, the LGBTQ
community
fought back. It was a watershed moment for the gay liberation movement and the beginning of gay pride as we know it today.
Since Stonewall, there have been many important cultural and legislative
victories for LGBTQ people in our nation – but the work is far from
over.
This year,
more than 125 anti-LGBTQ bills
have been introduced in state legislatures, many targeting children who
identify as transgender by denying them access to lifesaving medical
treatment or banning them from participating in sports or using the
restroom. This number is up markedly from last year, when more than 40
such bills were introduced. In fact, 2021 has set a record for the number
of anti-trans legislative efforts.
LGBTQ Rights
is one of our focus areas at the SPLC, and we’re working to ensure that
LGBTQ people achieve full equality under the law. We recently filed a
lawsuit on behalf of
Ashley Diamond, a Black transgender woman in Georgia who for the second time is facing
unconstitutional and abusive conditions in the Georgia Department of
Corrections. We continue to
monitor anti-LGBTQ hate groups
in the U.S., and we documented a
disturbing spike in their numbers in 2020. And we are still pushing to uphold LGBTQ rights in our Deep South focus
states, where few states offer protection against discrimination based on
sexual orientation or gender identity.
So much has changed since Stonewall, but the enormous strides we’ve made must not overshadow the work that remains to be done. On today’s anniversary, we are especially grateful for supporters like you who allow
us to keep the fight for LGBTQ equality and justice alive.
In solidarity,
Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center
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13 comments:
Steps have been made. Strides are needed.
I think you're in the one step forward, two steps back conundrum right now.
I was all excited about Pride month until I realized it wasn't about families of lions. I celebrated, anyway.
Happy Pride, everyone!
This is something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime, and yet, here we are!
Thankful to all who marched, worked, and sacrificed to bring this about so that people can be who they are and be with whom they love.
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
Bill - It could be about lions too. You never know.
Deb - LGBTQ needs to be happy as possible right now. Because they're comin' for them.
Shaw - Not to the end yet, but here is better than before.
So much progress that took so long to accomplish was hindered by that last vile Administration and his Cult Base of Fanatics, Fundies and Lunatics. I do believe the rest of us need to continue to stand in solidarity and push back against those who would try to take away Human Rights everyone deserves.
Bohemian - It takes so much less time to tear down civilization than it does to build it up.
We need to keep fighting the good fight. Thanks for sharing, Mike.
Well said!
Well done Mike. You are a good neighbor and a good influence in society. But I won't tell anyone!
Cloudia - Shhhhhhhh!
Matt - I'm always up for a good fight.
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