Farm Sanctuary is excited to celebrate all our LGBTQ+ staff and community members and honor the many LGBTQ+ activists, organizers, and community leaders who have been trailblazing the way toward a more just and equitable world. 

The first Pride march took place in June of 1970 in New York City on the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, a rebellion against police raids of the gay bar, Stonewall Inn, in Greenwich Village, New York. The Stonewall Uprising was a watershed moment in the movement for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. However, many uprisings preceded it as queer and trans people — primarily queer and trans people of color — were regularly targeted and discriminated against by the police. As Sylvia Rivera, one of the leading figures in the movement at the time, explained in an essay titled “Queens In Exile: The Forgotten Ones,” “We have to be visible. We should not be ashamed of who we are. We have to show the world that we are numerous. There are many of us out there.” 

Visibility is often a double-edged sword for queer and trans people, as it can lead to greater awareness, representation, and less isolation. Still, it can also lead to an increased risk of violence and discrimination, especially for those who are transgender and often have to contend with the danger of being hyper-visible in communities where gender diversity and gender justice are not recognized. Additionally, issues of oppression and injustice do not exist separately solely as heterosexism, anti-trans bigotry, racism, or classism, for example, but rather multiply to exacerbate further the harm people experience. The result is trans women of color are especially at risk for discrimination and violence.

At Farm Sanctuary, we recognize and celebrate Pride as an affirmation that each person is deserving of the freedom to show up authentically and be seen for who they are without losing safety, opportunity, or belonging. This month, and every month, we want to celebrate the diversity of our Farm Sanctuary community and our larger communities. We want to honor the importance of embracing an understanding of sexual orientation and gender that recognizes diversity and ensures that everyone has equitable access to safety, opportunity, and belonging independent of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or how one experiences or expresses gender. 

To explore and reflect on the interrelationships between queer liberation, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and veganism, we encourage you to check out The Queer Black History of Rioting and these talks by pattrice jones and Christopher Sebastian, including “In Context with pattrice jones: Queering Animal Liberation with Christopher Sebastian.” In 2021, Farm Sanctuary also collaborated with LGBTQ+ vegan community organizers, activists, and nonprofit leaders to host a Pride Roundtable Discussion as part of our Sanctuary Speaker Series. This vital conversation is currently live on Farm Sanctuary’s website. VINE Sanctuary is also hosting a Pride Month Vegan Challenge throughout June. Last but not least, all month, we will be highlighting the stories and work of LGBTQ+ individuals and organizations who are helping to promote social justice, make veganism accessible, and advocate for animal protection. 

Happy Pride to all of our LGBTQ+ staff and community members! We celebrate you and are so grateful for you!