June is Pride Month

Pride Month is celebrated every June as a tribute to those who were involved in the Stonewall Riots. On June 28, 1969, New York police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, which resulted in bar patrons, staff, and neighborhood residents rioting onto Christopher Street outside. Protestors demanded the establishment of places where LGBT+ people could go and be open about their sexual orientation without fear of arrest.  Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts,  and more. Memorials are held 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.  

Mainstream Living stresses the importance of equity and inclusion of all employees.  It is expected that all employees treat others with acceptance and respect and work to find intentional ways to grow in the understanding and support of others.  Understanding often comes from education. For example, do you know what the letters in LGBTQIA+ represent?  See below for more information. 

• L = Lesbian
• G = Gay
• B = Bisexual
• T = Transgender
• Q = Queer or Questioning (someone who is questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity)
• I = Intersex
• A = Asexual or Ally (someone who is straight or cisgender and supports equality for LGBTQIA+ people)
• To learn more visit, https://outrightinternational.org/content/acronyms-explained.  

If you are interested in participating in Pride Month activities, Pride Fest in Des Moines begins June 10.  Visit https://www.capitalcitypride.org/ for details and scheduling. Ames Pride hosts events throughout the year. For more information, visit http://www.amespride.org/.