Articles from the Constitution State
Triangle Community Center supports #BlackLivesMatter
The Triangle Community Center’s board of directors recently issued a powerful statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. They said, in part, “The LGBTQ community sees you, we hear you, and we support you. The LGBTQ community is with you as we, too, have been treated less than, have been murdered without justice, and are outcasts of society. We too have taken to the streets in protest and we, too, were incarcerated and ignored by the government during the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We, too, cry, mourn, and question authority when our Trans community of color is gunned down.”
The statement is not only a message of support, but beyond that, a call to action. They go on to say, “It is time for the LGBTQ community to join the fight. Because we are you. When one group is abused and oppressed, we are all in danger. To our LGBTQ family, I am calling on you to stand with our Black family. If we rally the same marching, organizing, time, and money that we typically spend on Pride on ending systemic racism—imagine the difference we could make. Addressing the unfortunate history of racism in our beloved LGBTQ community is an ongoing process, and now is the time for those of us with privilege to self-reflect, educate ourselves, listen actively, and act to challenge racism in our community.”
Their message urges all of us to use our voices, both literally and figuratively. They ask us to talk to those around us, even when it is not easy. They ask us to vote. They ask us to help each other in any way we can. They say, “It is time to have those uncomfortable conversations with the ones you love, your friends, and acquaintances. It is time to call out racism in all of its hate-filled forms. It is time to vote! It is time for action! No one is free until we are all free. This Pride month let us liberate each other.” The statement goes on to emphasize, “Black Lives Matter! Black Trans Lives Matter!” The full statement can be found at ctpridecenter.org.
Pride in the park
As of Boston Spirit’s July/August issue pub date, Triangle Community Center’s Pride in the Park is returning to Norwalk’s Mathews Park on August 22, after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event is a free pride festival featuring vendors, entertainment, food, local performers and more. Families are welcome to the annual event, which began in 2014. The TCC describes it as “CT’s largest Pride event.” The TCC also hosts many different support groups and events, free of charge, throughout the year. More: ctpridecenter.org.
New London Pride
Also as of Boston Spirit’s July/August issue pub date, OutCT plans to host their annual New London Pride Festival on August 15 at Ocean Beach Park. Partnering with local businesses, the festival includes musical performances, a dance party, resource booths and even free HIV testing. “Building a community through educational, cultural, and social programming that promotes acceptance, tolerance and understanding of all sexual orientations and gender identities,” is their mission, as stated on their website, describing their yearly festival as an event that “offers a space for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning & allies to find social and peer support.”
New London Pride Week was slated for August 19–25. Festivities include a karaoke night, a bowling night, a basketball game, an evening with some stars from RuPaul’s Drag Race and more. More: newlondonpride.com.
Trans High school athletes
The Associated Press reported in late May that a 45-page letter from US Department of Education’s civil rights office said the department “may seek to withhold federal funding over the [state’s policy against discrimination of transgender students], which allows athletes to participate under the gender with which they identify.”
The letter comes in response to a federal lawsuit filed back in February by families of three Connecticut high school track team runners. The families want to exclude transgender female athletes from participating in girls sports despite the state’s law allowing transgender athletes to compete in them.
In March, the US Justice Department also weighed in with a letter arguing against the state’s policy. [RP]
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