June is national Pride Month. The celebration of this month started on June 28, 1970 in New York City, when the first pride march was held as a tribute to those involved in the Stonewall Riots in 1969. You can learn more about the history of Pride month here.
One goal of Pride Month is to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual/aromantic/agender (LGBTQIA+). Throughout the month, there are many activities held including massive rallies, pride parades, parties, workshops, concerts, and countless more LGBTQIA+ events to attract participants from all over.
While many events are fun celebrations, it is also a month to commemorate and memorialize members of the community who have lost their lives to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS. The campaigns and rallies that take place aim to promote and preserve the history and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
Below are some important statistics that illustrate the need for more LGBTQIA+ support nationally. Locally, the MKE LGBT Community Center Resource Center is a great one-stop-shop for valuable information such as counseling programs, hotlines, clinics, support groups and more. To access this information, visit: https://www.mkelgbt.org/resource-center.
For families wishing to further explore LGBTQIA+ themes with their students, below is a list of books specifically aimed at elementary school students.
- Celebrating Transgender & Non Binary Identities
- When Aidan Became a Big Brother by Kyle Lukoff
- Jack (Not Jackie) by Erica Silverman
- It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book About Gender Identity by Theresa Thorn
- Call Me Tree: Llȧmame Ȧrbol by Maya Christina Gonzalez
- Celebrating Gender Expression
- Juliȧn is a Mermaid by Jessica Love
- The Boy and the Bindi by Vivek Shraya
- Celebrating All Families
- One Family by George Shannon
- And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson
- My Footprints by Bao Phi
- The Family Book by Todd Parr
- Celebrating Pride Month: History & History Makers
- Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders
- Queer There and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World by Sarah Prager [available at Wauwatosa High School libraries]
The Shorewood School District remains committed to providing a learning environment that is physically, socially and emotionally safe for all students; to cultivating a climate in all of our schools that is welcoming, safe, and inclusive for all students; and to honoring, valuing, and affirming our transgender, nonbinary, and all LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families through our policies, practices, and curriculum.
The District and School Board affirm, support, and value the gender identities and gender expressions of all our students and will continue to further efforts in our schools to create a welcoming, safe, and inclusive learning environment for our transgender, nonbinary, and all LGBTQIA+students.
To view the Shorewood School Board’s resolution in support of transgender, nonbinary, and all LGBTQIA+ students, click here.
For additional information on Pride Month, 2022 events, audio and video resources and more, visit: https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/