June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. In his 2016 Proclamation of LGBT Pride Month President Barack Obama said:
“The fight for dignity and equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is reflected in the tireless dedication of advocates and allies who strive to forge a more inclusive society. They have spurred sweeping progress by changing hearts and minds and by demanding equal treatment — under our laws, from our courts and in our politics. This month, we recognize all they have done to bring us to this point, and we recommit to bending the arc of our Nation toward justice.”
Pride Month grew out of commemorations of the 1969 Stonewall riots, which took place in Manhattan beginning on June 28, 1969. The riots are considered the catalyst for the LGBT civil rights movement in the United States. On the first anniversary of the riots, the first gay pride parades in U.S. history took place in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and near the Stonewall Inn in New York where the riots occurred. These commemorations grew into what is now a month-long recognition of the LGBTQA+ community and diversity, and individual freedom. Pride month includes events ranging from parades and festivals to symposia and workshops in cities large and small around the country.
Our link to Argonne’s LGBTQA+ community is our employee resource group Spectrum, which is dedicated to building awareness and providing resources to the community not only during Pride Month, but year-round. The group meets from noon to 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at the Bldg. 213 Cafeteria. “We are an inclusive community made up of people of all orientations,” said Peter Friedman (CIS), Spectrum board member. “Allies are always welcome.”
Friedman added, “During Pride Month I’d like to encourage everyone to learn more about LGBT history as well as what it means to be inclusive and how that benefits both our communities and our workplaces.”
For more information on Spectrum, visit their blog.
For information on Pride Month activities in the Chicago area, see:
For information on Pride Month see:
For information on inclusion in the workplace see:
