Photo by: dav.d photography

This Pride month, there is a lot to celebrate.  There has been marked momentum this year as more and more states have turned down gay marriage bans in favor of equality.  The tide has definitely changed with more and more Americans supportive of it.

While, celebrations are warranted, it is also a time of pause, because there  exists in many Issues. There are sectors in business where discriminatory laws and practices are carried out, leaving  no protections in the work place.  There are also the battles and hostilities that are still being waged against the transgender community.  LGBT Seniors represent a large population  but are invisible with a lack of support systems, even within the LGBT community where ageism prevails. The fight against HIV and AID’s is still a very real issue and public focus needs to be centered on a cure while still breaking down the prejudices that exist both in and out of the LGBT community. Horrible crimes are being committed , even genocide, in countries where gay rights are not accepted and being homosexual is legislated as a crime.

As you can see from the small list of issues that still need to be addressed, there is work to do, vigilance to be maintained and unity needs to solidify. The goal of the LGBTQI movement is to meet  milestone events like Pride and use it as to resolve to stay the course until we truly change the world into a place of inclusivity.

This grand civil and human rights movement crosses all races, creeds and geographical location. The sacrifices of those, in the past,  who stood up against injustice in this country despite the beatings, the incarceration of many and the underground world they were forced to live in has brought forth the great progress we have seen today.

We are their beneficiaries and we are, at the same time,the pioneers for those in the future.

“The arc of American history almost inevitably moves toward freedom. Whether it’s Lincoln and the Emancipation Proclamation, the expansion of women’s rights or, now, gay rights, I think there is an almost-inevitable march toward greater civil liberties.”-James McGreevey