“It takes no compromise to give people their rights … it takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.” – Harvey Milk
Commemorated each year in the month of June, LGBTQ+ Pride Month honors the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City. In June of 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn staged an uprising to resist the police harassment and persecution to which LGBTQ+ Americans were commonly subjected. This uprising marked the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ+ Americans.1
Each year in the United States during the month of June we recognize Pride as an opportunity to celebrate the history, people, and resilience of the LGBTQ+ communities. Although progress has been made, many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people still face hostile environments and discrimination. Reports show that discrimination against LGBTQ+ people increases the likelihood of social alienation, homelessness, financial instability, substance use, HIV vulnerability, incarceration, psychological distress, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, suicide, homicide, depression, and anxiety.
We here at Tradewinds Fitness strive to create an inclusive and supportive community for all our members including every sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. Inclusive communities such as ours have been proven to improve health outcomes, overall satisfaction, and commitment of LGBTQ+ people and reduce discrimination and stigmatization. The rich diversity of our athletes, coaches, and community make us who we are, and the support we have for one another shows us what we can be. Together let’s show our support, and affirm that hate has no place within our FitFam or community.
In everything we do, we strive to take Action, because we know it’s not what we say that matters, it’s what we do. Below is a short list of some resources and organizations to check out in support of Pride and our LGBTQ+ communities. We encourage our community to seek out knowledge and spread love every day of the year.
Take Pride Actions:
Mass Pride Organizations: https://www.bostonpride.org/
How to be an Ally: https://www.bostonpride.org/ally/
Human Rights Campaign – LGBTQ+ Inclusive companies
LGBTQ+ Resources in Greater Boston: https://www.greaterbostonpreventssuicide.org/lgbtq
LGBTQ+ Nonprofits and Charities in MA: https://greatnonprofits.org/state/Massachusetts/category:LGBTQ/sort:review_count/direction:desc
MA DMH Young Adult Resource Guide LGBTQ Resources: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/dmh-young-adult-resource-guide-lgbtq-resources
The Out Foundation: https://theoutfoundation.org/outathlete/
Anti-Defamation League – Print Month and Education Resources
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) represents a force of more than 3 million members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.
LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Education Resources | ADL