New York, NY - Tuesday, June 1, 2021 - GLAAD, the world's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, today released a statement to honor the start of Pride Month, highlighting the ongoing issues and challenges facing the LGBTQ community and calling on allies to support the transgender community and the passage of the Equality Act.
"This Pride Month, we are once again reminded that despite great strides of progress made for the LGBTQ community over the past few decades, the fight for full LGBTQ acceptance is far from over.
At a time when the number of out LGBTQ people continues to grow, we should take Pride Month to celebrate who we are, but also to remember the root of Pride is in protest and in demanding full acceptance and equality. The spirit of Pride is needed this month and all year long.
Over this past year, we have witnessed an unprecedented level of horrifying attacks on the LGBTQ community in policy, rhetoric, and direct violence. In 2021 alone, there have been over 250 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced in state legislatures across the United States, most of which specifically target transgender people and youth. Many of these laws target the rights of trans youth to play school sports or criminalize doctors for providing life-affirming care to trans youth and their families. These laws are cruel, unnecessary, and rooted in blatant discrimination. Despite major medical and educational organizations speaking out against the laws, several states across the country including Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, and West Virginia have signed such anti-LGBTQ legislation into law this year. All LGBTQ people and allies must loudly speak out and take action to fight these laws and future ones.
Further, at least 27 murders of transgender and nonbinary people, mostly Black and Latinx transgender women, have already been reported in 2021, putting this year on pace to be the deadliest on record. This ongoing cycle of violence against the trans community is an epidemic that must be imminently addressed, but only continues to worsen by the ongoing slate of baseless and shameful attacks on trans people on the state legislative level.
Events of the last year have also brought necessary attention and awareness to the long history of oppression of people of color in America. From the horrific and public murders of Black Americans, to the terrifying rise in hate crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, to the devastating health and financial impacts of COVID-19 on marginalized groups, we repeatedly see how the oppression of people of color continues to result in an ongoing cycle of inequality, discrimination, and injustice, by which LGBTQ people of color are disproportionately impacted. Black Lives Matter is a LGBTQ issue. #StopAsianHate is a LGBTQ issue. The DREAM Act and fight for equal pay are LGBTQ issues. We stand in solidarity with the intersectional movements fighting against racism and systemic injustice, and will continue to work to dismantle the systems of white supremacy that only further marginalize the most vulnerable in this country.
At this critical time in the fight for LGBTQ acceptance, we must continue to drive awareness to the pressing issues affecting our community, including the lack of LGBTQ protections nationwide. Currently, more than half of U.S. states still have no explicit laws protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination in key areas of life, including housing, education, public accommodations, access to credit, federally-funded programs, and jury service. This could all change with the passage of the Equality Act, which would provide comprehensive protections for LGBTQ people, as well as women, people of color, and religious minorities.
As leaders in our community continue to push for the passage of this landmark legislation in the Senate, we call on our allies across the country, including corporations and those in the business community, to publicly speak out in support of the Equality Act. It's simple: protecting all LGBTQ people, including LGBTQ people of color and members of the trans community, is both good for business and good for the world.
This Pride Month, it has never been more important to show up for LGBTQ people, specifically the trans community, which continues to be disproportionately impacted by discrimination, violence, and inequality. We have created a resource guide (nhttps://www.glaad.org/blog/how-support-trans-community-pride ) with various ways to get educated, find and show support, and activate in solidarity with the trans community during Pride and beyond.
As we reflect on and honor the past 52 years since the Stonewall riots and all the trailblazers who have paved the way for acceptance and visibility of our community today, we must remain centered on the reality that full LGBTQ acceptance can not be achieved until we protect the most vulnerable among us."
GLAAD will be supporting various events during Pride Month:
June 4: P&G and iHeartMedia's "Can't Cancel Pride," a virtual relief benefit for the LGBTQ community. Hosted by Elvis Duran and Bebe Rexha, the event will feature performances and appearances from Demi Lovato, Lil Nas X, JoJo Siwa, Marshmello, MJ Rodriguez, Nina West, P!NK, Ricky Martin, Brothers Osborne, Hayley Kiyoko, Jennifer Hudson, Troye Sivan, and more. Funds raised from "Can't Cancel Pride" will support LGBTQ organizations including GLAAD, SAGE, The Trevor Project, the National Black Justice Coalition, CenterLink, and OutRight Action International. More information here: www.cantcancelpride.com/ .
June 4-8: Outfest presents The OutFronts, a five-day digital festival connecting fans with all things LGBTQ in television. The festival includes free panel discussions and exclusive members-only premieres featuring the talent from some of the most exciting LGBTQ programs available on television today. More information here.
June 6: Pride Live's Stonewall Day, a global campaign to elevate awareness and support for the Stonewall legacy and the continuing fight for full LGBTQ equality. This year, Pride Live is teaming up with OUTLOUD: Raising Voices to kick off Pride month with a three-day, one-of-a-kind global concert experience to be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the heart of Los Angeles from June 4-6, culminating with Stonewall Day on June 6. Stonewall Day will be hosted and headlined by Adam Lambert, featuring appearances from notables including Whoopi Goldberg, Chelsea Clinton, Kim Petras, Geena Rocero, Angelica Ross, Ryan Jamaal Swain, George Takei, Chely Wright, and more. More information here: secureservercdn.net/104.238.68.130/p2o.d11.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/STONEWALLDAYRELEASE.MAY212021.pdf .
End of June (date to be announced): Black Queer Town Hall hosted by Bob the Drag Queen & Peppermint.
June 30: Ty Herndon & CMT's Concert for Love and Acceptance, streaming on CMT's Facebook and YouTube channels at 8pm ET. Ty Herndon will co-host the event with CMT's Cody Alan, with performers including Brothers Osborne, Kristin Chenoweth, Terri Clark, Brooke Eden, Harper Grae, Chris Housman, LOCASH, Kathy Mattea, Rissi Palmer, Gretchen Peters, Tenille Townes, Walker County, and Chase Wright, and many others. Proceeds from the event will go to benefit GLAAD, MusiCares, and Nashville's Oasis Center. More information here: www.cmt.com/news/1834049/ty-herndon-brothers-osborne-rissi-palmer-set-for-2021-concert-for-love-and-acceptance/ .
During Pride Month, several LGBTQ-inclusive films and shows will premiere or conclude:
June 1: Changing the Game, a documentary about the stories of trans student athletes, is released on Hulu.
June 6: The series finale of Pose airs on FX.
June 11: Season 2 of Love, Victor premieres on Hulu.
June 11: Greenwich Entertainment's Sublet, a gay Israeli film co-starring John Benjamin Hickey and Niv Nissim, opens in theaters.
June 11: HBO Max releases In The Heights, featuring Stephanie Beatriz as the queer lead.
About GLAAD:
GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.
