Column: We all must engage to ensure positive change
We are living through historic times with widespread demonstrations calling for the eradication of racial injustice, while navigating the impacts of a global pandemic, which also disproportionately affects communities of color. Our communities, in many cases led by our youth, have an opportunity to learn to lead systemic change and dismantle inequities — and we cannot let this moment pass without taking that opportunity.
If history tells us anything, the work to build real equity never ends and requires ongoing vigilance to topple long-standing societal barriers to ensuring that all are free, safe, and feel welcomed and supported. This work requires an empathetic understanding of differences in our lived experiences and of historical context, along with personal perseverance, persistence and insistence. Most importantly, we all must engage.
We have seen evidence of change rising out of collective movements like the one we are witnessing now. In fact, the month of June is LGBTQ Pride month, an observance born from a struggle against discrimination that can trace its roots in this country back decades. Many historians cite a series of events in New York City that began on the evening of June 28, 1969 as the birth of the modern LGBTQ rights movement in the United States. The nation watched as neighbors, bar staff and others joined in a six-day escalation of protests along Christopher Street following a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village. The diversity of voices who participated in the events shared a common theme: the need to establish places where LGBTQ people could be open about their sexual orientation without fear of arrest.
More than 50 years later, communities have carved their own traditions to commemorate and celebrate the contributions of LGBTQ people to culture, business, education and communities. Pride celebrations including speeches, festivals, concerts, family events, film screenings, workshops, performances, marches and rallies take place across the nation. Whether on a college campus or in a workplace, the freedom to live, learn and work without fear and prejudice is at the heart of Pride celebrations and activities. The Pride movement has led to local, state and national nondiscrimination legislation and better social conditions for members of the LGBTQ community. Just this month, another success in the movement toward social justice was accomplished when the U.S. Supreme Court extended the scope of the Title VII protections of the Civil Rights Act, ensuring greater workplace protections for LGBTQ people.
At Texas A&M University-San Antonio, the President’s Council on Equity, composed of students, faculty and staff, champions a campus culture of nondiscrimination, inclusiveness and equity. A number of campus programs and activities help raise awareness and provide support such as the LGBTQ+ Coalition, a University-recognized student organization, and the LGBTQ Safe Space, a national program that provides training and signage for institutions committed to supporting LGBTQ students by providing educational programs and support services. Topics include the history of the LGTBQ civil rights movement; understanding the difference between sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression; and creating inclusive classrooms and campus spaces.
In June and throughout the year, A&M-San Antonio is committed to supporting and advancing an environment of inclusivity within a framework of justice, equity and acceptance for all. While it was disappointing this year not to host the wonderful variety of public Pride month events that we normally would, our efforts to ensure that the campus is a safe and welcoming place for all are continual.
As a public university, our campus is actually your space; it belongs to the community and all are welcome. When you do visit — and I encourage you to — I hope you’ll find it to be the safe and welcoming place that we strive for it to be.
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, Ed.D, is president of Texas A&M University San Antonio.
