This Pride Month, let’s celebrate and continue the fight for equality

Pride Month is a joyous occasion, for me personally and for our whole community. It’s a chance to honor the work and achievements of LGBTQIA+ people who have led the long — and ongoing — fight for dignity, safety and equality. More broadly, it’s a time to recognize the contributions of LGBTQIA+ people that enrich our world in countless ways. June is a time to celebrate the fact that we are indeed proud to be who we authentically are, and that our society has come a long way in welcoming the complex and intersecting identities that each of us brings to the table.

All over Seattle, and the nation, Pride celebrations are taking place throughout the month. Seattle’s annual Pride Parade is scheduled for this Sunday, June 26; if you attend, keep your eyes peeled for the UW Medicine contingent among the marchers. Across our University, you will find celebrations of Pride, including works by UW faculty, students and alumni, and opportunities to learn about the trans equality movement. Each June, we also symbolize our commitment across our three campuses by flying the Progress Pride flag, the work of Pacific Northwest artist Daniel Quasar.

Without a doubt, Pride is a time to celebrate progress, including the news today of Title IX revisions that expand protections for transgender students. But at a moment when anti-LGBTQ hate speech is on the rise, lawmakers in other states are passing anti-LGBTQ laws, and Pride events have been the targets of planned violence, it is also a time to remain vigilant and active. These assaults on sexual orientation and gender identity usually go hand in hand with efforts to limit the recognition of other historical and structural inequities experienced by marginalized groups. It’s a reminder that in the fight for equality, we are stronger when we are united, advocating for everyone’s right to live authentically, free of harassment and discrimination.

I am proud to be a part of our UW community, which is so dedicated to fostering inclusion, acceptance and a welcoming environment for LGBTQIA+ students, staff and faculty. And I’m proud of the work that so many of our community members and alumni do beyond our campuses to maintain and expand progress toward LGBTQIA+ equality and acceptance. There is room for all of us in this work — as LGBTQIA+ people and as allies. This month, in recognition of the progress we’ve made so far and the journey still ahead, there is also room for us all to celebrate together.