In June, democracies around the globe mark Pride Month—an integral part of the ongoing struggle for civil rights and against discrimination targeting people who identify as LGBTQI+ (lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, intergender, non-binary, and others). The word “Pride” is really less about boasting and more about the right to live free from the arbitrary, oppressive norms that have saddled many in these communities with shame, stigma, and social as well as mental ill-health. The movement’s most recognizable emblem is the iconic Rainbow Flag, symbolizing the conviction that a society open to diversity is valuable and worth striving for in its own right. June therefore becomes a time to reflect on the strength, resilience, joy, and organizing capacity that have enabled LGBTQI+ groups to survive through the ages—qualities that remain essential as LGBTQI+ people continue to face everyday obstacles.
The ongoing criminalization of same-sex relationships hampers social justice and equality and limits LGBTQI+ people’s access to healthcare. Laws that treat same-sex love as a crime fuel stigma, violence, and discrimination, making it harder to seek the services they need to stay healthy. At the same time, transgender, intergender, and non-binary people still encounter harassment, threats, and violence in their everyday lives. We also see mounting resistance, and deliberate efforts to obstruct these groups from receiving the essential gender-affirming care they need. This is completely unacceptable.
Pride Month is not only an occasion to spotlight today’s global work for LGBTQI+ rights; it is also a chance to honor LGBTQI+ history and the distinctive cultures that have grown within these communities. In many cities, the celebrations culminate in a vibrant parade that brings together LGBTQI+ individuals, their families, friends, and allies. Lorenzburg remains steadfast in our commitment to defend human rights and every person’s freedom to live and love according to their own heart. These qualities—the will to live fully and the capacity for joy—are precisely what we are so proud of, and what Pride represents.
