HSC Celebrates Pride Month

Each June, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center celebrates Pride Month to recognize the history, achievements and ongoing inequities faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual communities (LGBTQIA+).

Pride Month commemorates the 1969 uprising at the Stonewall Inn in New York City and the transformational liberation movement it unleashed.

Throughout the month the HSC is hosting a series of in-person gatherings and virtual presentations that explore historical and contemporary aspects of the struggle for equity and celebrate the many important contributions and achievements of LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals.

Additional details may be found here. Here are some upcoming offerings:

• Organizing for Resistance-Sovereign Nations & Our LGBTQ+ Families – Virtual presentation by Alray Nelson, executive director of Diné Pride and founder and lead organizer for Diné Equality, with follow-up Q&A moderated by Jaron Kee, MD. Monday, June 21, 5-6 p.m.
• Still Learning: LGBTQ Health & Medical Education in 2021 – Virtual presentation by Kristen L. Eckstrand, MD, PhD, a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor at the Western Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Wednesday, June 23, 12 p.m.

• Student Success Panel – Virtual presentation by current and former LGBTQIA+ students, moderated by Kelleen Maluski, Student Success and Engagement Librarian,Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center. Thursday, June 24, 12-1 p.m.

The UNM Hospital Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team has also compiled a variety of LGBTQIA+ courses on Learning Central, and the Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center has produced a new LGBTQIA Research Guide and updated its LGBTQIA+ Health Resources page.

Important strides have been made in the past half century, but LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to face discrimination and are denied their fundamental rights and dignity in hospitals, schools and public accommodations. Even now some in our society would like to turn back the clock.

Please take some time to explore this month’s offerings as we continue the journey toward a more just, tolerant and inclusive society.