June 2023 is LGBTQ+ Pride Month

This is a time to educate ourselves and the community about LGBTQ+ issues

Photo by Mercedes Mehling on Unsplash

During June each year, we celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month in the United States. This is a time for the LGBTQ+ community to come together to advocate for acceptance in society.

Although gay marriage is legal now, there is still a long way to go for equality. Ever since 2020, a record number of bills have been put forward at the State and Federal levels that would restrict LGBTQ+ rights.

You can read about all of the legislative issues that are facing the LGBTQ+ community in 2023 on my blog.

Many of the laws are aimed at our children and youth in schools, such as the Florida “don’t say gay” bill which is aimed at students and teachers. Although these purport to protect our children, they do the exact opposite. There are already higher rates of suicide and homelessness in LGBTQ+ teens, and lack of social acceptance can only make this worse.

This month, you can also try to educate yourself as much as you can about LGBTQ+ rights issues, and learn how to speak up and be an ally. Having straight allies means a lot to all of the LGBTQ+ people in your life, and they will value having your acceptance and support.

If you have a child or other young person in your life that has come out as LGBTQ+, there are many ways that you can support them. It will mean a lot to have your acceptance, and for them to be able to be open and speak freely about the issues that they may face in school and elsewhere.

Being supportive of the LGBTQ+ people in your life can greatly help them, and it can increase acceptance in society as a whole. The more we can do our part and spread the message that “love is love” and to advocate against hateful and intolerant legislation, the more we can further the cause of equality in society.

Have a great day and a great pride month!

Nicole Dake