Ritter Center’s Post

It may be the end of June BUT….. Why Awareness Months Matter I've seen posts lately criticising Pride Month and initiatives like Black Lives Matter, often accompanied by comments like "All Lives Matter." Let's set the record straight: Yes, all lives do matter, but the reason we focus on specific groups at certain times is to address and raise awareness about the unique challenges they face. We celebrate Pride Month to honor the LGBTQ+ community and their ongoing struggle for equality and acceptance. Similarly, Black Lives Matter highlights the systemic racism and injustice faced by Black individuals. These initiatives aren't about saying other lives or issues don't matter; they're about shining a light on specific problems that need our attention and action. For those who argue that we should celebrate all lives and issues all the time, consider this: by bringing focused attention to different causes at different times, we ensure that each gets the visibility and support it needs. Just like in business, where we don’t promote all products at once but focus on one at a time to maximise impact, awareness months allow us to concentrate our efforts and make a real difference. So instead of complaining about why certain groups get a month or why certain movements are in the spotlight, let's support these initiatives and understand that they are essential for driving progress and creating a more inclusive society for everyone. Do you agree?

🌟 Celebrating Juneteenth! 🌟 Juneteenth, observed on June 19th, marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas were finally informed of their freedom, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This historic day symbolizes the end of slavery in the United States and represents a significant milestone in the fight for equality and justice. Juneteenth is a time to reflect on our history, honor the resilience and contributions of Black Americans, and recognize the ongoing struggle for true freedom and equality. It's a celebration of Black culture, achievements, and the unyielding spirit that continues to inspire us all. At Radiant Health Centers, we believe in equality for all, and we believe in compassionate care and support for everyone regardless of their race, color, faith, origin, sex, or orientation. We recognize there are still hurdles we face in overcoming bias and discrimination in our own communities. But we stand in solidarity with our Black and LGBTQ+ communities so that no one is left behind. Together, we can create a world where everyone is free to be their true selves. 🏳️🌈✊🏿 #Juneteenth #EqualityForAll #RadiantHealthCenters #LGBTQ #BlackLivesMatter #Celebration #CompassionateCare #InclusiveCommunity

🌟 Day 3: Honoring Black Queer Pioneers: Foundations of Our Fight 🌟 Today, we honor the incredible Black queer pioneers who have been instrumental in both the civil rights and LGBTQ+ movements. From Marsha P. Johnson's fearless activism during the Stonewall Riots to Bayard Rustin's strategic brilliance in organizing the 1963 March on Washington, and James Baldwin's eloquent critiques of race and sexuality—these trailblazers have paved the way for the freedoms we cherish today. 🔍 Key Highlights: Marsha P. Johnson: Co-founder of the Gay Liberation Front and STAR, advocating for homeless LGBTQ+ youth and sex workers. Bayard Rustin: Close advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and key organizer of the historic 1963 March on Washington. James Baldwin: Brilliant writer and social critic whose works like "The Fire Next Time" challenged racism and homophobia, fostering greater empathy and understanding. Their legacies remind us that our liberation is deeply intertwined, and their bravery continues to inspire our fight for justice and equality. Quote of the day: "History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history." – James Baldwin 📖 Read more and join the conversation on my Substack newsletter In solidarity and empowerment, Desireé B Stephens #Pride #Juneteenth #BlackQueerPioneers #Intersectionality #CivilRights #LGBTQ #SocialJustice #CommunityBuilding #Liberation #EquityInEducation

To help define the future you must be aware of the past. 🤔 How often have you seen visible #Black #LGBTQ+ Role Models in the workplace? The answer is not nearly enough in general and in the Financial Services industry - hardly at all. ⚫ We are shining a light on the extraordinary but often untold stories of Black LGBTQ+ heroes. At LGBT Great, we're working to empower 1 million people by 2030, and a critical part of our mission is to illuminate these powerful yet often invisible and untold stories.   ⚫ Part of our journey involves elevating the voices and contributions of Black #lesbian, #gay, #bisexual, #transgender, and #queer people. Together, we must work to encourage and inspire the visibility of more Black LGBTQ+ talent and leaders in the workplace. ⚫ Join us in this journey of discovery and recognition. Together, let's honour the legacies of Black LGBTQ+ trailblazers and push forward towards a future where every story is heard and every voice matters. Discover these 15 Black LGBTQ+ Trailblazers in The Root Magazine:   ➡ https://lnkd.in/ecKYKiHY   #RoleModels #TogetherWeCan #BlackHistoryMonth #LGBTQ #Diversity #Inclusion #RoleModels #FinancialServices #MakingHistory #LGBTGreat

Sacramento LGBTQ+ Historic Experience Project - Historic Context Statement. Help us record LGBTQ+ history in Sacramento by providing comments on this first draft historic context statement. The City of Sacramento is seeking public participation in its effort to document LGBTQ+ history in Sacramento. This grant-funded project is collecting oral history interviews, documents, and photos from members of the public through our online portal which will be used along with in-depth historical research to inform this historic context statement of LGBTQ+ history in Sacramento. We recognize not all stories are included in this document, so we need your help to fill in the gaps. What is a historic context statement? It's a planning tool we are using to identify buildings, sites, and landscapes for their association with the LGBTQ+ community in Sacramento so we can recognize their historic importance. We use this document to help justify listing buildings on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources, create placemaking opportunities, and educate the public about this important history. COMMENT DEADLINE: July 7, 2024 HOW TO COMMENT: https://lnkd.in/gHAApsMN If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at LGBTQ-Experience@cityofsacramento.org

Sacramento LGBTQ+ Historic Experience Project - Historic Context Statement. Help us record LGBTQ+ history in Sacramento by providing comments on this first draft historic context statement. The City of Sacramento is seeking public participation in its effort to document LGBTQ+ history in Sacramento. This grant-funded project is collecting oral history interviews, documents, and photos from members of the public through our online portal which will be used along with in-depth historical research to inform this historic context statement of LGBTQ+ history in Sacramento. We recognize not all stories are included in this document, so we need your help to fill in the gaps. What is a historic context statement? It's a planning tool we are using to identify buildings, sites, and landscapes for their association with the LGBTQ+ community in Sacramento so we can recognize their historic importance. We use this document to help justify listing buildings on the Sacramento Register of Historic and Cultural Resources, create placemaking opportunities, and educate the public about this important history. COMMENT DEADLINE: July 7, 2024 HOW TO COMMENT: https://lnkd.in/gn8knPXB? If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at LGBTQ-Experience@cityofsacramento.org

As we move into the first full week of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the Appalachian Studies Association celebrates and holds space with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, aromantic, pansexual, and folx of many additional identities who live within and beyond Appalachia. ASA encourages members to be active in the struggles for equity for all persons. In these times, we must continue to support individuals of trans experience, especially those who are also young, Native, disabled, Black, individuals of color, women, Appalachian, and/or part of additional minoritized or excluded identities. We must continue to support reproductive rights for all individuals who can give birth. We must continue to support each other. As scholars, activists, educators, practitioners, students, individuals, groups, and institutions associated with Appalachia, we are familiar with holding pride for a place many set aside as other. So we come together not only to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities, but also to join together in our movements from margins to center. #appalachianstudies #appalachia #appalachian #appstudies #asa #Asainaction #pride 

As we move into the first full week of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the Appalachian Studies Association celebrates and holds space with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, aromantic, pansexual, and folx of many additional identities who live within and beyond Appalachia. ASA encourages members to be active in the struggles for equity for all persons. In these times, we must continue to support individuals of trans experience, especially those who are also young, Native, disabled, Black, individuals of color, women, Appalachian, and/or part of additional minoritized or excluded identities. We must continue to support reproductive rights for all individuals who can give birth. We must continue to support each other. As scholars, activists, educators, practitioners, students, individuals, groups, and institutions associated with Appalachia, we are familiar with holding pride for a place many set aside as other. So we come together not only to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities, but also to join together in our movements from margins to center. #appalachianstudies #appalachia #appalachian #appstudies #asa #Asainaction #pride 

History excludes so many voices and points of view of ordinary people like you and me… Providing only a partial understanding of our past distorts our perception of the present and future. Imagine revolutionizing history so that no voices are marginalized – history where everyone’s experiences help to tell the story. Imagine a history where the stories of life of all people in all countries are equal. Voices of women, people of color, LGBTQ, displaced people, people in developing countries…voices of all of us become part of history. The voices that our children and their children and their children will hear… …ALL OUR CHILDREN WILL KNOW THAT THEY MATTER. Your stories help to create a more truthful and inclusive History. If you are ready… History Chip is the platform for YOU to participate actively, contributing your voice to reshape historical narratives. So Start today, write and record your story only at historychip.com #storytelling #history #historychip

Join PEN Piedmont at at Scuppernong Books to celebrate BIPOC and LGBTQ+ books! In collaboration with Gamma Xi Phi - ΓΞΦ a predominately African-American fraternity of men and women in the arts, this discussion will focus on the campaign to ban books by and about BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers, while also providing strategies to push back against these censorious threats. Books featuring these themes have been deliberately targeted by governments and school systems nationwide. In PEN’s report “Banned in the USA: The Mounting Pressure to Censor,” during the 2022–23 school year, PEN America recorded 3,362 instances of books banned, an increase of 33 percent from the 2021–22 school year, with 30 percent of those books including characters of color or discussing race and racism, and 30 percent contain LGBTQ+ characters or theme. To register and learn more, visit https://lnkd.in/ep4ur7Cw