Pride Month 2021
It’s Pride Month! The BCWF is celebrating with the rest of the world and bringing awareness to the challenges faced by the LGBTQAI2S+ community. The month of June commemorates those who took part in the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969. Police officers raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, and began hauling its customers outside. Then, the outrage caused a multiple-day protest and was a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.
Why is Pride Month important?
52 years later, nearly 30 countries, including Canada recognize same-sex marriage. However, more than 70 countries still consider same-sex conduct a criminal offence. In six of these countries, the death penalty is the result of consensual same-sex conduct.
The Government of Canada states, “Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that ‘all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.’ Next, Article 2 declares, ‘Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration.’ All people, including LGBTQAI2S+ individuals, are entitled to enjoy the protection provided by international human rights law, which is based on equality and non-discrimination.”
Around the world, members of the LGBTQAI2S+ community experience violence and discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Harassment and prejudice towards LGBTQAI2S+ people are prevalent in classrooms, workplaces, and in all aspects of life. Everyone deserves the same fundamental human rights, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
Get involved!
Visit Vancouver Pride for more information and ways to get involved this month.
Sources
Government of Canada. (2020, July 7). The human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, 2-spirit and intersex persons. https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/human_rights-droits_homme/rights_lgbti-droits_lgbti.aspx?lang=eng
History. (2021). What Happened at the Stonewall Riots? A Timeline of the 1969 Uprising.
https://www.history.com/news/stonewall-riots-timeline
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights (Universal of Declaration of human rights link).
Visit Vancouver Pride for more information and ways to get involved this month.