FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 06/22/2020
Contact: Christine Perez
Company: National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA)
Phone: 202-347-9733
Email: events@nhcoa.org
Web: www.nhcoa.org
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @NHCOA

Washington, D.C. – June is recognized as Pride Month by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities; with many Pride events occurring throughout the month and on the last Sunday in June to commemorate the anniversary of Stonewall.  This year, the National Hispanic Council on Aging joins SAGE and the Diverse Elders Coalition in celebrating Pride Month and honoring the Stonewall uprising with the Pride in Place Campaign. Pride in Place is a way to celebrate Pride wherever you are; remembering that pride is a state of mind, and our pride will persevere against all odds.

On June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village. The raid sparked an uprising among Stonewall patrons and its surrounding communities as the police forcibly removed employees and patrons from the club. This event, sparked six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement – serving as the catalyst for the LGBT rights movement in the US and worldwide.

Remembering and honoring this event is especially important in 2020 as we have seen protests and uprisings across the country and even across the globe in response to, yet another string of people of color murdered by the very hands sworn to protect them, law enforcement. We ask our communities to join us this month and as we move forward to let the Pride in Place campaign serve as another source of inspiration for combatting systemic racism and all other isms that are rampant in the United States.

More than 50 years ago, LGBT leaders showed us that change can come by refusing to be invisible and refusing to be silent – this is a lesson we can learn from. While the struggle for equal rights continues for LGBT people, battles have been won. Last week, the US Supreme Court, in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., extended the protections of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to LGBTQ people. While this is a major victory, we must acknowledge, that in 2020, we still need the highest court in the land to tell us that it is not ok to fire someone because of their sexual orientation/identity. There is still work to be done to achieve equity in the United States, but together, we will continue the fight.

About the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA): NHCOA is the leading national organization working to improve the lives of Hispanic older adults, their families, and their caregivers. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NHCOA has been a strong voice dedicated to promoting, educating, and advocating for research, policy, and practice in the areas of economic security, health, and housing for Hispanic older adults, families, and caregivers for more than 50 years.

For more information about NHCOA call 202-347-9733 or visit www.NHCOA.org.

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