Celebrating Pride Month: A Resource Guide June 2021 Celebrating Pride Month: A Resource Guide

Table of Contents Author

IF YOU WANT TO: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office Pride Month Subcommittee Listen and learn 1 [email protected] Understand and connect 2 Watch and enjoy 2 Read and absorb 3 Investigate and explore 3 Support and experience 3 Share and cultivate 4

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Celebrating Pride Month: A Resource Guide

Celebrating Pride Month: A Resource Guide

About Pride Month About This Resource Guide

Pride month is the promotion of the self-affirmation, Commonfund, in conjunction with our Pride Month dignity, equality and increased visibility of lesbian, subcommittee has created a resource guide to help gay, bisexual, and transgender people (LGBT+) as a us all celebrate the contributions of Americans in the social group. Pride as opposed to shame and social LGBT+ Community. For the purpose of this guide, we stigma, is the predominate outlook that drives most will reference the acronyms LGBT+ or LGBTQ+ which LGBT+ rights movements.[1] LGBT+ is an inclusive stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or way to represent all of the different identities in the Queer, plus other sexual identities in the greater community. community. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that the LGBT+ individuals If you want to listen and learn: have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. Pride Month is currently celebrated in Podcasts June to honor The Stonewall Uprising of 1969 in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping • LGBTQ&A point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Initially, the last Sunday in June was Weekly interviews with the most interesting celebrated as “ Day,” but the actual date LGBTQ+ people in the world. Recent guests was flexible. In major cities across the nation the include Laverne Cox, Pete Buttigieg, Roxane “day” soon grew to encompass a month-long series Gay, and Brandi Carlile. LGBTQ&A is hosted by of events. Jeffrey Masters and produced by The Advocate magazine, in partnership with GLAAD. Today, celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and • Making Gay History LGBT+ Pride Month events attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held Bringing the voices of the LGBTQ History to life during this month for those members of the though intimate conversations with champions, community who have been lost to hate crimes or heroes, and witnesses to history. HIV/AIDS. • Nancy The first Pride march in New York City was held on Stories and conversations about the queer June 28, 1970 on the one-year anniversary of the experience today. Prepare to laugh and cry and Stonewall Uprising. laugh again.

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If you want to understand and If you want to watch and enjoy: connect: Documentaries, movies, and other films

Cultural & historical resources • When Did You Become Gay? (Part of the What I Hear When You Say series.) • LGBTQ+ Studies: A Resource Guide Take a closer look at the words used to describe The collections of the Library of Congress tell LGBTQA communities through storytelling, the rich and diverse story of LGBTQ+ life in analysis, and humor. This episode explores America and around the world. This research sexuality, gender fluidity, and the language used guide serves as an introduction into the to describe LGBTQA communities from three excellent collection of LGBTQ+ resources unique perspectives: an activist (Kristin Russo), available at the Library of Congress. a professor (Moya Bailey), and a media • LGBTQ+ Resources in Business and the personality (Tyler Ford). Workplace • The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson This guide provides selected research materials (2017) on the issues that affect the economic When transgender activist and drag performer circumstances of the LGBTQ+ community. The Marsha P. Johnson was found dead in the resources cover the aspects of the LGBTQ+ Hudson River in the summer of 1992, friends lives as employees, consumers, entrepreneurs, and fellow activists were shocked. But her death and business leaders. Human resources issues was ruled a suicide by New York City police, such as employment and workplace and the national media paid little attention. discrimination, as well as organizational issues Years later, The Death and Life of Marsha P. for creating an inclusive and equitable Johnson explores her little-investigated death environment for people with diverse while celebrating her legacy as a pioneer, in the backgrounds and identities, are considered. 1960s and beyond, of what would come to be There are also resources for marketers to help called the LGBTQ rights movement. them understand the LGBTQ+ consumers better. • Kiki (2016) • Before Stonewall: The Homophile Movement In Kiki, New York City’s present-day drag ball scene continues many the subjects and themes The Homophile Movement refers to the local, explored in Paris Is Burning, with today’s youth national, and international social-political taking center-stage. Written and directed by movement for gay and lesbian rights which Sara Jordenö and co-written by Twiggy Pucci emerged following World War II. Garçon, a leader in New York’s “kiki” community • How HIV Impacts LGBTQ People – an evolution of the ball room scene for a new generation – the joyous film presents this While HIV affects Americans from all walks of competitive dance world as a safe haven for life, the epidemic continues to disproportionately LGBTQ youth in political landscape that’s impact certain members of the LGBTQ changed significantly since the 1980s. community.

• Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement

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• L Word Mississippi: Hate the Sin (2014) If you want to read and absorb:

The Showtime documentary L Word Mississippi: Books and materials to read Hate the Sin features interviews with lesbian couples who live in conservative areas of the • “The Gay Revolution: The Story of the Struggle” Southern U.S., where they are often subjected by Lillian Faderman to bigotry, homophobia, and racism. Produced by Ilene Chaiken, co-creator of the television • “And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and series The L Word, the film presents a personal the AIDS Epidemic” by Randy Shilts look at many of the struggles faced by gay • “Love Wins: The Lovers and Lawyers Who Americans in the 21st century, as devout Fought the Landmark Case for Marriage religious leaders and community members Equality” by Debbie Cenziper and Jim protest the subjects’ marriages and unions. Obergefell • State of Pride (2019) • “: The Story of How Fifty years after the Stonewall Uprising, Oscar®- Activists and Scientists Tamed AIDS” by David winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey France Friedman and host Raymond Braun travel to three diverse communities – Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama – for an If you want to investigate and unflinching look at LGBTQ Pride, from the perspective of a younger generation for whom it explore: still has personal urgency. Articles and other educational websites • Stonewall Forever – A Documentary about the • Past, Present and Future of Pride (2019) Carrie & Mollie & Anna & Lucy | Queering the Women’s Suffrage Movement Stonewall Forever is a documentary from NYC’s LGBT Community Center directed by Ro Haber. • Who was at Stonewall? The film brings together voices from over 50 • LGBTQ America: A Theme Study of Lesbian. years of the LGBTQ rights movement to explore Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer History queer activism before, during and after the .

• Moonlight (2016) If you want to support and A 2016 American coming-of-age drama film experience: based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Non-profit and community resources Boys Look Blue. The film presents three stages • NYC Pride Events in the life of the main character: his childhood, adolescence, and early adult life. It explores the • Triangle Community Center difficulties he faces with his sexuality and identity, including the physical and emotional • Fairfield County Events Hosted by Triangle abuse he endures growing up. Community Center • 2021 Pride Celebrations in Connecticut

• LGBTG Community Events in Southeastern Connecticut – outCT.org

• Pride at Work

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If you want to share and cultivate:

Resources for families & children

• Human Rights Campaign | LGBTQ Youth

Challenges faced by LGBTQ youth are changing, but what they always need is support from each other and the adults in their lives.

• Triangle Community Center Youth Resources Triangle Community Center (TCC) is Fairfield County’s leading provider of programming and resources to nurture growth and connection within the LGBT+ community.

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Lexicon

Ally – An ally is any person that actively promotes and aspires to advance the culture of inclusion through intentional, positive, and conscious efforts. It starts with reflecting on one’s own identity, and on society’s dominant identities, then the next step is recognizing others’ identities and the ways those identities are privileged or marginalized in society. Allies are willing to see these differences and to make an effort to promote equity – eliminating “otherness” even while acknowledging difference. Allies do not speak for or over the communities they support – they stand with them.[5] To be a true ally: lift others up by advocating, share growth opportunities with others, do not view venting as a personal attack, recognize systematic inequalities and realize the impact of micro-aggressions, believe underrepresented people’s experiences, and most importantly – listen, support, self-reflect and change.[6]

Asexual – A person who is not attracted in a sexual way to people of a gender.

Bisexual – A person who has significant romantic, emotional, physical, and/or sexual attractions to members of both sexes. The frequency, intensity, or quality of attraction is not necessarily directed toward both sexes equally.

Gay – A man whose primary romantic, emotional, physical, and sexual attractions are to other men. The term is also sometimes used generically to describe sexual orientation regardless of gender.

Intersex – A person whose body is not definitively male or female. This may be because they have chromosomes which are not XX or XY or because their genitals or reproductive organs are not considered “standard”.

Lesbian – A woman whose primary romantic, emotional, physical, and sexual attractions are to other women. LGBT/LGBTQ – Stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer. The order and letters included can vary, but LGBTQ is considered standard.

Pansexual – A person whose sexual attraction is not based on gender and may themselves be fluid when it comes to gender or sexual identity.

Questioning – A term for people who are unsure of their sexuality and still in the process of exploring and wish not to be labeled.

Queer – An umbrella term used by some in place of LGBTQ to be more inclusive (e.g. “The queer community crosses all demographic lines”). Also sometimes used as a term of identity (e.g. “I am a queer woman.”) which generally indicates an open-ended identity. Use of the word “queer”: Opinions vary on the use of “queer” – it has historically been a slur, but some in the LGBTQ community have reclaimed it as their own. For broad public usage and in formal written materials, and especially for allies, “LGBT” or “LGBTQ” are more appropriate.

Transgender – A broad term that applies to people who live all or substantial portions of their lives expressing a sense of gender that differs from the sex and gender role they were assigned to at birth. It includes transsexuals, people who feel their biological sex fails to reflect their true gender, and people who refuse to identify with any gender. “Trans” is a prefix that signifies over, beyond, or on the other side. Combined with gender, it gives the idea of a gender spectrum, rather than a male vs. female dichotomy.

Sources: [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-33278165 [3] https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/ [4] https://www.prideatwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/LGBTQUnionGuide.pdf [5] https://library.mccnh.edu/DEI/allies [6] https://www.forbes.com/sites/shereeatcheson/2018/11/30/allyship-the-key-to-unlocking-the-power-of-diversity/

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For additional resources, please visit the Commonfund website to download our Diversity and Inclusion: Ways to Make a Change resource guide.

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