Thread by @JonHoadley

THREAD: Pride Month, celebrated all throughout the month of June, is officially underway. While many may expect a more traditional celebratory note to wish you a happy Pride, I feel obliged to reflect on the historical and contemporary importance of this month. (cont)

Many don't realize that Pride began 50 years ago in 1970 with the 1 year anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. In 1969, a black trans woman named Marsha P. Johnson along with other LGBTQ individuals risked their lives to protest the over-policing of the LGBTQ community (cont)

and the injustice that threatened their existence on a daily basis. This protest became known as the Stonewall Riots and is credited by many for starting the modern-day LGBTQ equality movement. (cont)

It's in honor of this kind of sacrifice that we take this month to remember and celebrate. Still, injustice persists.

It rings hollow to merely say that I am horrified, heartbroken, and angry at the racial injustices being protested nationwide. (cont)

The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless others by those sworn to protect our communities is unacceptable. The lack of accountability for those murders is unacceptable. (cont)

As a friend recently told me, white leaders need to take risks for racial justice. We must be bold in advocating for transformational policies and programs, and work to dismantle racism within the LGBTQ community & across all communities. We must, and we will, do better. (cont)

Pride, while a celebration of love, living authentically, and acceptance, is also a sobering reminder of the sacrifices made to achieve this freedom. Thousands of LGBTQ individuals risk death & incarceration around the globe simply b/c of who they are or who they love. (cont)

The fight for LGBTQ equality continues, just as it does for racial justice. As we remember Marsha P. Johnson, Bayard Rustin, Larry Kramer, and other LGTBQ trailblazers this month, we recognize that the struggle to live authentically inherently includes racial justice. (cont)

Discrimination against one community is discrimination against us all. While I am proud to represent the 60th District here in MI as a gay man, my privilege as a white individual requires that I not stay silent regarding racist systems that perpetuate oppression. (cont)

So as we celebrate Pride this month, let us also commit to the work of dismantling inequality wherever it persists. Let us continue to examine the ways that we can contribute to a more fair and just society. Let us take risks in our own lives to be in service of others. (cont)

Let us recognize the risks millions of people still take every day here and around the world to live their lives authentically. Let us ensure that those who protested before us did not do so in vain.

With Pride and love,

Jon Hoadley

lgbtqnation.com/2020/06/heres-…