Honoring Pride Month

Submitted by: Dot Winslow, LGBTQIA+ Caucus Chair

My name is Dot Winslow, and I am the new chair of the LGBTQIA+ caucus.

While starting to write this post to honor Pride Month, I discovered that words of encouragement or empathy fell flat. Many individuals in our community are taking heart from the origins of this tradition, born from commemorating the spirit of resistance. Many narratives are being shared online about resilience, fear, and taking action, but here I want to invite everyone to take a moment of reflection.

For those in the queer community, what does Pride Month mean to you? For allies, what does it mean to stand with the community and witness this moment? I am heartened by the support that was shared amongst members at the MLA Annual Conference in Milwaukee, and encourage everyone to continue to build connections across distances. Though Pride Month is 30 days, let’s carry this resistance forward through the year.

Cheers,

Dot Winslow, MFA