Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Published Friday, June 3, 2022 from Annie Caruso and Michelle Famula, Co-Chairs of the Vice Chancellor's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council
On June 12, UC Davis Health and UC Davis faculty, students, and staff will gather in downtown Sacramento to take part in the parade and participate in the annual Sacramento Pride Festival. Join the celebration!
Dear Colleagues, The month of June is an annual opportunity to demonstrate our pride as members and allies of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community. It is also a chance to acknowledge and pay our respects to the trailblazers that came before us.
Today, we witness and experience the fruits of their tireless labor and historical contributions, and can honor these pioneers by creating a more inclusive and equitable community for all – especially for historically underrepresented or marginalized groups like the LGBTQIA+. If you are not familiar with the history behind the meaning of Pride Month, check out last year’s Advancing Health, Equity and Inclusion blog for more information.
At UC Davis and UC Davis Health we strive to build and maintain a culture and climate based on mutual respect and caring, as noted in our Principles of Community. Employee and student advocates across our campus are also engaged in multifaceted efforts to cultivate a community that strives to be a “beloved community” – after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision – where inclusion, appreciation, and respect overcome racism and other forms of discrimination. Throughout the year, our campuses bring together faculty, students and staff to build community, form bonds, and learn from one another.
Our efforts to help employees, students and patients feel like they have a safe place to work, learn, heal, and thrive have not gone unnoticed, either. Most recently, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation designated UC Davis Medical Center an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader as part of the foundation’s 2022 Healthcare Equality Index report. UC Davis is also committed to supporting trans and non-binary employees in the workplace noted by the Resources for Trans and Non-Binary Employees.
Additionally, all UC Davis and UC Davis Health employees are eligible for free courses, including continuing medical education, in LGBTQ+ patient care through the Human Rights Campaign Foundation – this includes more than 60+ different online training options. Staff are also encouraged to join the PRIDE-LGBTQ+ employee resource group (ERG) or any of the many other ERGs that graciously volunteer their time to help make our organization a more inclusive, compassionate one. There are numerous ways to participate and show your support as a member or ally of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Find more LGBTQIA+ related connections, resources and programs available to UC Davis and UC Davis Health at:
- UC Davis Health Vice Chancellor’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Council
- Gender and Sexual Diversity Student Interest Group: https://health.ucdavis.edu/diversity/lgbt.html
- Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion LGBTQ+ Resources
- UC Davis LGBTQIA+ Resource Center
- UC Davis Chancellor's Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual Issues (CCLGBTQIA): https://diversity.ucdavis.edu/chancellors-committee-lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-queer-intersex-and-asexual-issues-cclgbtqia
It takes a village to build a community that is inclusive, respectful and that values our differences. We’re excited to celebrate LGBTQIA+ Pride month with our campus community!
Sincerely,
Annie Caruso and Michelle Famula
Co-Chairs of the Vice Chancellor's LGBTQ+ Advisory Council