To the community:
June is Pride Month for the international LGBT community. It is a celebration of our human dignity. While Pride Month sparks many parades, celebrations, prayer services and reminders of our past, we continue to look to the future with a great deal of hope.
Our Pride celebrations are beacons of hope and joy for both our community and our allies. It is a bittersweet time because we also remember the many members of our community who were allowed to die in isolation from HIV/AIDS a story we must never allow to be forgotten. While those were dark days in our human-rights journey, by coming together as a community we brought light to that darkness.
In celebrating Pride, we must never forget our LGBT families, seniors and youth. Far too many LGBT families with children are still struggling just to get their children protections that any other family would have through the institution of marriage. Our LGBT youth endure bullying not only on the streets, but also in their schools and all too often are thrown out of their homes to fend for themselves resulting in far too many suicides. Our LGBT seniors must face in many cases the hostility of neglect when they seek care in assistant living care programs and homes. Sometimes, even among us, they are not given the dignity and respect they deserve.
It is my hope that you will take time out from your busy lives to enjoy this month in a safe and responsible manner, and to always remember who you are and that you are needed by this community.
Joe Murray
Rainbow Sash Movement