As a company, we are recognizing Monday, June 28 as an official holiday in observance of Pride Month. Celebrations may look a little strange this year, but we are there in spirit.
On June 28, 1969, a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in NYC became an uprising that lasted days. In between periods of violence, LTBTQ+ people performed music and poetry and danced on Christopher Street. Christopher Street Liberation Day, on June 28, 1970, marked the first anniversary of Stonewall. The march, from Christopher Street to Central Park, was the first Gay Pride march in world history.
In the 50 years since Stonewall, much has changed. The world was introduced to HIV/AIDS, and we lost a generation of elders. Queer people have gained rights in countries on every continent. In the US, we’ve seen increased LGBTQ+ representation in every industry, but we’ve also seen a rise in LGBTQ+ teen homelessness and suicide. In the past year, anti-transgender rhetoric and policy that threaten the lives of trans people across demographics have surged in the US and UK.
As a small firm, we have the privilege to choose our own company holidays, and we believe Pride is worthy of recognition. We hope that members of our client community are able to join us for a day of rest and reflection, so that we can recognize how far we’ve come and how much work is left to be done.
