During the month of June, in commemoration and remembrance of the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, we celebrate the resilience, joy, love, and diversity of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community.

Beginning in the early hours of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village in New York City. This raid sparked six days of protests and violent clashes between members of the public, gay and straight alike, and law enforcement officers.

Since 1969, “Pride Marches,” rallies, demonstrations, and celebrations have been planned throughout the country each June to commemorate this movement, shift, and cultural change toward greater acceptance and understanding of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.

This month, we celebrate generations of LGBTQIA+ people, in Vermont and throughout the world, who have continued, despite devastating discrimination and threats to our lives, families, and futures, to fight as determined advocates for the rights of all people to exist, thrive, succeed, and become fully integrated, embraced, and valued members of our broader communities.

We celebrate the following milestones here in Vermont: enacted hate crime legislation including sexual orientation in 1990 (with gender identity added in 1999); provided benefits to same-sex partners of state employees since 1994; was the first state to recognize same-sex unions in 2000 legally; legalized same-sex marriage in 2009; banned the use of ‘conversion therapy’ in 2016; and legally required all single-user public bathrooms to be marked as gender neutral in 2018.

In addition, the state’s anti-bullying law prohibits bullying based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability – including cyberbullying and harassment – and applies to all educational institutions in the state. Continued education about these milestones in Vermont’s history supporting the rights of LGBTQIA+ people is vital, especially so that young people in our state know they are supported and protected.

This month, we are celebrating Montpelier Pride 2023, with events leading up to and following a Pride Festival on the State House Lawn on Saturday, June 3, from 1 – 4 PM. Learn more about events, including a FREE Vermont Symphony Orchestra performance, Critical Mass Bike Ride, Pride Poetry Readings, Dance Parties, and more at Pride Center of Vermont.

Hunger Mountain Co-op has organized, since 2019, a sub-committee of the Co-op Council called the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, which advocates within the Co-op community and broader Montpelier community for greater understanding, inclusion, support, and visibility of BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals and families. If you would like more information about joining this Committee, or the Co-op Council, contact Eva Schectman, Council president.