Dear DCD Families,

June is Pride Month, a time when we celebrate and honor the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride Month is significant because it recognizes the contributions, struggles, and achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community and reminds us of the importance of equity and acceptance for all.

June is designated for Pride Month due to the The Stonewall Riots, which occurred in June 1969. These riots were a series of landmark demonstrations by members of the LGBTQIA+ community in response to police raids at the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in New York City. The riots marked a turning point in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement and are often cited as the birth of the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement.

In June of 2015, the Obergefell v. Hodges case was decided; Obergefell v. Hodges was a landmark Supreme Court case in 2015 which ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. The case was a culmination of decades of activism and legal battles by the LGBTQIA+ community seeking equal rights and recognition for their relationships. The case was named after James Obergefell, who sued the state of Ohio for refusing to recognize his marriage to his partner John Arthur, who was dying of ALS. Currently, some sitting members of the Supreme Court have called for the overturning of this decision.

This year's Pride Month comes at a time when we are witnessing a disturbing trend of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation being passed in various states across the country. These laws aim to restrict the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly transgender individuals, and deny them access to basic human rights such as healthcare, education, and employment.

Some examples of these laws include restrictions on access to gender-affirming healthcare for both minors and adults and prohibitions on teaching about LGBTQIA+ issues in schools, including reading literature or showing media that features LGBTQIA+ people.

These laws are not only deeply concerning and have a significant impact on the lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly youth who are already vulnerable to discrimination and violence.

Let us consider the significant role that schools play in shaping the lives of our students. We have the power to create an environment that is accepting, respectful, and supportive of all students. By educating ourselves and others about the issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community and advocating for their rights and well-being, we can work towards creating a more just and equitable world for all. To that end, I am particularly proud of the student members of DCD's LGBTQIA+ affinity space, led by Ms. Catherine Bass, for decorating our campus for pride, and for providing several of the media and event recommendations below.

I would also like to to highlight the holiday of Juneteenth coming up on June 19th, 2023. Juneteenth, a celebration with roots in the American Civil War era, holds deep significance as a milestone in the ongoing struggle for equal rights and freedom. On June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received news of their emancipation, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. This momentous occasion marked the end of legal slavery in the United States, yet it also served as a reminder that the fight for justice and equality is an ongoing journey.

Today, Juneteenth not only commemorates the liberation of enslaved people but also serves as a powerful symbol of resilience and the quest for civil rights. It stands as a poignant reminder that freedom is not always granted willingly, but rather won through collective efforts and unwavering determination. Juneteenth connects the struggles of the past to the challenges faced by marginalized communities in the present.

In modern times, the echoes of Juneteenth resonate in the fight against systemic racism, and the battle for comprehensive voting rights. It serves as a rallying point for individuals and communities across the nation, inspiring them to continue the work towards dismantling discriminatory structures and creating a society where all are truly equal. Juneteenth reminds us that the journey towards justice is ongoing, and it is a collective responsibility to ensure that every individual is afforded dignity, equality, and the freedom to thrive.

I hope you all thrive this summer!

Sincerely,

Ivy Alphonse-Crean

For the month of May, Culture Club created their own cherry blossom branches in honor of The National Cherry Blossom Festival which commemorates the 1912 gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, DC.

Middle school students from our LGBTQIA+ affinity space thoughtfully and proudly decorated campus for Pride Month.

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month: June 1 - June 31, 2023

Pride Month is a month-long celebration dedicated to the commemoration of the ongoing pursuit of equal justice for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community and the celebration of the accomplishments of LGBTQ individuals. It is celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, which was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Pride Month events include pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, and concerts, and they attract millions of participants around the world. Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally. Today, Pride Month is celebrated globally, and many cities hold their celebrations at other times of the year. The term “Pride” is credited to Brenda Howard, a bisexual New York activist nicknamed the “Mother of Pride,” who organized the first Pride parade to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. The rainbow flag is the most widely recognized symbol of the LGBTQ community, and it is often flown during Pride Month. Allies from outside the LGBTQ community are always welcome to participate in pride events!

Juneteenth: June 19th, 2023

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the historic event that took place on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas. It was on this day that Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and announced the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, effectively ending slavery in the state. The proclamation came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, highlighting the delayed enforcement and communication of freedom in certain parts of the country. Juneteenth quickly became a symbol of freedom, resilience, and the enduring struggle for equality, serving as an annual celebration of African American history and culture. Over the years, Juneteenth has gained increasing recognition and is now widely observed across the United States as a time for reflection, education, and a reaffirmation of the ongoing fight against systemic injustice. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday.

Primary School

The Dedham Public Library has several wonderful events for both May and June! Check out their calendar here.

Here is a short read and video about Pre-colonial communities’ history of gender fluidity.

Check out this interesting read about gender in pre colonial times, particularly Africa.

From The Daily, Dr. Daina Ramey Berry, a professor of history at the University of Texas at Austin, discusses the history and meaning of Juneteenth.

From the Smithsonian, an introduction to the David M. Rubenstein History Galleries Slavery and Freedom exhibition by Mary Elliott, NMAAHC Curator of American Slavery.

As always, the Smithsonian has several resources tailored for Pride Month. A few interesting ones to consider are:

• The Pride Family Zone, which has coloring pages, crafts and more!
• The podcast QueerSpace, which highlights the stories and people at the intersection of aviation, space, and LGBTQ+ history and culture.
• This great list of LGBTQ Women who Made History.
• This podcast about Lucy Hicks Anderson, who never let anyone tell her how to live her life—not even the courts. When her gender was put on trial in the 1940s, the publicity around her case made her one the first documented Black transgender figures in American history.
• Another episode featuring artist Frank Holliday, who was a who's who of New York City cool: Andy Warhol, Cyndi Lauper, RuPaul, Keith Haring, and even Madonna. But Frank's odyssey through the art world also placed him at the center of an epidemic that would shake the entire country.
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This video discusses why all Americans should celebrate Juneteenth.

The TV Show Black-ish, with help from The Roots, explains the origin of Juneteenth.

This video where you can hear from kids about what "pride" means to them.

Click here to learn a little bit about Harvey Milk. Milk was a visionary civil and human rights leader who became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

An oldie but a goodie from The Takeaway: 153 Years of Juneteenth.

If you would like to learn more about the experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth, you may want to take a look at the 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People from The Trevor Project.

The Human Rights Campaign presents their Weekly Roundup of Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation Advancing In States Across the Country.

In other news, the Department of Education has found that a Georgia school district may have created a hostile environment for students by banning certain books from its libraries, the agency's Office of Civil Rights said.

Steven Universe

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Want to learn more about Horizons at DCD? Come for a visit this summer! You can find the sign-up genius here. There's really nothing like being able to see the program in person, and this is a great way to connect with the Horizons community.