CRIO Celebrates Pride Month
Every year during the month of June, people around the world come together to celebrate pride. Pride month is a time for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies to celebrate their accomplishments throughout history, but also to advocate for what still needs to be done in order to secure full equal rights around the world. In particular, International LGBT Pride Day takes place on June 28th, a date which began the tradition of fighting for and celebrating pride.
Stonewall Riots
On June 28, 1969, protests began by the LGBTQ community in Lower Manhattan of New York City at the Stonewall Inn, an event which is now known internationally as the Stonewall Riots. In the 1960s, most establishments did not welcome LGBTQ individuals and gay bars were frequently raided by the police. When the police raided the Stonewall Inn on June 28, however, they quickly lost control as the bar’s patrons decided to fight back for themselves. In the following evenings, more protests erupted, which brought greater attention and awareness to the LGBTQ cause. Weeks later, organizations and newspapers had formed strictly promoting the need for equal rights. A year later, on June 28, 1970, pride marches took place throughout the United States, leading the way for pride marches to take place around the world today.
HIV/AIDS Epidemic
In the 1980s, the LGBTQ community began to suffer from a new illness that was predominantly appearing in once healthy gay men who were quickly declining from a virus causing immunodeficiency. This eventually became known as the Global HIV/AIDS epidemic throughout the 80’s and 90’s. Stigmas against the gay community, as well as a lack of government funding and research, led to mass casualties particularly amongst gay and bisexual men and people of color. Once again, the LGBTQ community leaned on one another to raise awareness to the public, demand government support for research, and spread life-saving health education. Today, because of the work done within the LGBTQ community, preventative medication is widely available to help stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and, while there is no cure yet, people living with the disease can still lead successful lives with the proper care.
Moving Toward the Future
CRIO is proud to celebrate the past, present, and future of the LGBTQ community throughout the entire year, but particularly during the month of Pride. Today, over 30+ countries have passed marriage equality and legislation has been made around the world improving equal rights for the LGBTQ community. Clinical research has also embraced positive change for the LGBTQ community, as seen by organizations such as the Whitman-Walker Institute promoting HIV care and prevention, STI testing, gender-affirming healthcare, research, policy & advocacy, education & training, and more. While there will always be work to do, it is important to be proud of the successes that have brought us here.
“At Whitman-Walker Institute, we are proud to be at the forefront of organizations ensuring strong representation of LGBTQ+ communities in clinical trials – and research more broadly – as a critical component of our organization’s work to advance health equity” said Dr. Jonathon Rendina, Senior Director of Research at Whitman-Walker Institute.
Written By
Harrison Galusha, Customer Success Manager II at CRIO
Hannah Kulkarni, Customer Success Manager III at CRIO
