Honoring resilience, contributions, and diversity. 

Pride Month is a time to celebrate authenticity, reflect on the contributions and impact, and honor the resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community. It is also an opportunity to highlight the barriers that still exist and take meaningful steps to create systems that support all people. This also means advocating for policies and practices that affirm identity, honor diverse family structures, and prioritize access and inclusion. 

Understanding Family Diversity 

The concept of family extends beyond traditional definitions. LGBTQ+ families may include same-sex parents, blended families, or non-biological parental figures. Despite the growing recognition of diverse family structures, systemic inequities persist. Child support and welfare systems were often designed with heteronormative assumptions, which can lead to exclusion or discrimination. For example, LGBTQ+ parents may face challenges in accessing services due to outdated policies, stigmatization, or a lack of cultural competency among service providers. Addressing these barriers is essential to ensuring that all families receive the support they need to thrive

All children deserve safety and the freedom to be their authentic selves.

LGBTQIA+ youth experience increased discrimination, including bullying, lack of supportive services, systemic barriers in healthcare, and overrepresentation in foster care.

We need systemic reforms to protect LGBTQIA+ youth and provide care that affirms their identities. Recent actions, such as the finalized rule to strengthen protections for youth in the child welfare system, are essential steps toward creating an environment where they can truly succeed.

People Who Paved the Way 

The progress we celebrate today is due to the courage, vision, and advocacy of individuals who fought for LGBTQ+ rights. Figures like Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man elected to public office in California, showed the importance of representation. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, activists and key players in the Stonewall uprising, championed the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly individuals with intersectional marginalized identities. Their legacies remind act for justice and equality. 

Advocating for Inclusive Policies 

To create equitable systems, we must advocate for policies that embrace diversity and prioritize inclusion. A few examples include: 

• Expanding legal recognition of diverse family structures in child welfare and child support frameworks. 
• Improve access to inclusive services, such as affirming healthcare 
• Define expectations and practical application of cultural competency skills for caseworkers and service providers who serve the LGBTQIA+ community. 
• Implementing safeguards to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or family composition. 
• Promoting accountability for structural challenges through system transformation initiatives 

Celebrating Pride by Taking Action 

Pride Month elevates the voices of LGBTQIA+ families and works toward systemic change.