June is Pride Month

LGBTQ Pride Month is a celebration and commemoration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender pride. Pride Month began after the Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan—a series of gay liberation protests in 1969—and has since spread outside of the United States.

Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and LGBTQ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

Unfortunately, the LGBTQ community still does not see equal rights. Record numbers of anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced this year. At least 417 bills limiting the rights of LGBTQ+ people have been introduced in state legislatures across the United States since the start of the year—a new record, according to American Civil Liberties Union data as of April 3. That’s already more than twice the number of such bills introduced all of last year.  You can find more information on these bills here.

To find your senator and see where they stand on various important issues, including LGBTQ+ rights, visit GovTrack.

This is why it who you vote for matters. Our elected officials get to decide what is passed in the House and Senate—and what could ultimately become law. If you are not registered to vote you can do so here. Make sure you are voting for those who stand for your rights and the rights of all workers.

IAM works with constituency groups like Pride at Work to ensure that bills attacking people for who they are do not get passed. Resources like Pride at Work also help when we are at the bargaining table ensuring the appropriate language is included to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ workers on the job.

Resources

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/06/politics/anti-lgbtq-plus-state-bill-rights-dg/index.html

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