Celebrating Pride Month and LGBTQ People in the Public Transportation Industry

 

This June commemorated the 51 ^st anniversary of the Stonewall Inn uprising of June 28, 1969, which is viewed by many as sparking the movement for LGBTQ rights in the United States. People of color and trans people played a pivotal role, illustrating the intersectional nature of the LGBTQ community.

 

Unlike previous years where people thronged to the Greenwich Village institution, this year was a somber event. The Inn has been shuttered for three months due to COVID-19. Another victim of COVID, Pride Month this year was not celebrated with colorful marches in New York or in any other cities across the U.S. Instead, people watched virtual events—from their homes. While the events may have been somewhat subdued, the sentiment was nevertheless strong: every person deserves to be treated equitably and fairly.

In the decades that followed the Stonewall riots, the LGBTQ community has seen some progress in the struggle for equality. On June 15, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This decision is critical in that it protects gay, lesbian and transgender individuals from discrimination in workplaces across the country. But this victory was a long time coming.

The LGBTQ community is committed to ensuring that every person is treated equitably and fairly. It embraces all movements for justice—including Black Lives Matter.

In this issue of Passenger Transport, APTA members and staff talk about their experiences—personally and in the workplace—and how mobility and public transit can advance the LGBTQ community at large.

In years past, transit agencies have conducted special marketing on social media and on their vehicles to commemorate Pride Month; they have expanded service to accommodate parades in major cities; and made safety improvements for LGBTQ riders. Internally, many agencies have been making strides by expanding diversity and inclusion policies and centering equity in their service planning. With renewed calls for racial justice and with major COVID-19 service disruptions this year, agencies can build on progress made and make their service more equitable and accessible to all.

 

Photo by Toni Reed on Unsplash

 

COMMENTARY

 

Standing as Transit Brothers and Sisters Against Prejudice and Inequity