All Aboard: Pride Month
Welcome to All Aboard. Brought to you by the members of ACT’s DE&I Committee, this content strives to highlight people and their stories in a more holistic approach to show how these contributions move our industry forward.
This month, ACT’s DE&I Committee is honoring Pride Month, which is held in June in recognition of the Stonewall Riots that happened in June 1968 in New York City and the liberation movement that continued afterward. What started as a protest and uprising against police persecution has transformed over the years into a celebration, recognition, and call to action for those in the LGBTQ+ community and allies.
In 2021, Pete Buttigieg made history by being the first openly LGBTQ+ Secretary or Senate-confirmed person to lead a federal department and hold a Cabinet-level position, being confirmed as the US Secretary of Transportation, a role in which he is still serving. This follows 2019, when he was the first LGBTQ+ person of any US party to earn a delegate and win a state caucus or primary. In his role as Secretary of Transportation, he supported the development and passage of President Biden’s signature Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and has focused on delivering investments provided by this legislation.
While Secretary Buttigieg may be one of the highest-ranking members of the LGBTQ+ community, there are many people at all levels who are making history and contributing to advancing the transportation industry.
Cities and local officials around the world hold festivals celebrating pride, opening up streets and other public spaces for parades and gatherings, wrapping public transit in rainbow colors, hanging flags and banners along streetlights, lighting up prominent buildings and infrastructure in rainbow, and installing rainbow crosswalks, especially in historically LGBTQ+ neighborhoods.
The DE&I Committee members encourage everyone across the industry to attend celebrations and educational programs throughout the month (and beyond) and to explore further resources to expand their own learning and understanding of the history, cultures, and experiences of those who identify in the LGBTQ+ community.
ACT also invites you to capture Pride in ACTion by sharing photos from your communities with #prideinACTion.
Join the DE&I Committee!
If you would like to be part of the DE&I committee and are interested in affinity groups, please contact Jonathan Schuppert at jschuppert@meta.com. An affinity group is a group of individuals that share a common identity or interest. Our committee is currently exploring the interest of having affinity groups and how best to create them. We would love you to be part of this effort.
Our next issue will be in honor of Juneteenth, so stay tuned!