2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Month, much to celebrate and much to do!
2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Month is celebrated each year in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York to achieve equal justice and opportunity for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, and asexuals (2SLGBTQIA+). It is a month with a celebratory energy because it gives the space and support to be who we are and helps to make visible the wonderful diversity and contributions of this community. We celebrate this movement of minority groups and their tireless fight for decades against prejudice and abuse towards those of us who love and identify differently. Pride month is also acceptance, inclusion, equality, and an opportunity for education and awareness of the problems we face every day, and in different ways in the world.
Tolerance, equality and dignity are the most important values that we must elevate to continue supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. We have had great victories in the past such as the elimination of gay identity as an illness or psychological disorder and the victory in the United States supreme court by declaring laws prohibiting gay marriage unconstitutional. There is still a lot of ignorance and abuse against our community. There are 78 countries in the world that criminalize consensual relationships between people of the same sex with prison, torture and even death. We see these abuses in the lack of legislation that provides greater protection for the freedom to be who we are, wherever we are, without fear of being singled out, disowned and attacked verbally, emotionally and physically. In Puerto Rico, as well as in the United States, we have seen an increase in hate crimes. We observe the misclassification of these crimes which is one of the great injustices we experience today. We also see the lack of adequate health services for people in the community and therefore an increase in acute and chronic conditions that can be avoided by simply providing basic health needs. For example, at the intersection of environmental justice and 2SLGBTQIA+ we see how same-sex couples have a higher risk of cancer and respiratory diseases than heterosexual couples. We see in many churches and religious denominations a strong rejection and marginalization of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Many times, promoting drastic conversion measures; serving disinformation, sowing hate and creating division. How can we support our 2SLGBTQIA+ community? Be an ally. If you have a family member, friend or neighbor in the community, let them know that you accept them as they are, support the movements and organizations that provide support and services to the community, educate your family and parishioners that being different is not synonymous of sin, an illness or shame. On the contrary, we are citizens like everyone else. We work, we get sick, we have families, pets, children, social needs and struggles. Raise the messages of peace, love and acceptance always. Showing a commitment to creating an inclusive work environment where employees feel valued and supported. This is a month to remember that no one should be discriminated against. And celebrate the beautiful diversity that we human beings are and with our allies celebrate unity, acceptance and freedom. 
Dr. Samarys Seguinot Medina is a Queer-Boricua,
health and environmental professional and lives in Dena’ina lands, Alaska. |