25 May PrideVMC Announces Pride 2021 Event Calendar
Pride celebrations take a variety of forms from marches to parties to protests and most recently, virtual community events. Since the start of what is considered by many the modern LGBTQ+ liberation movement in the 1970s, hundreds of independent Pride events have sprung up in cities worldwide, each tied distinctly to local energy and priorities and linked in some way to the foundational Stonewall Riots that occurred on June 28, 1969. With this backdrop, the Pride Veterinary Medical Community (PrideVMC) and its student-led arm the Pride Student Veterinary Medical Community (PrideSVMC) announced their Pride 2021 Event Calendar. Events and activities run the gamut from educational webinars, celebratory virtual events, podcasts, digital campaigns, and a Facebook profile picture frame. All of the details and registration links can be found in the Pride Events detailed overview and on the public calendar.
Dr. Dane Whitaker (he, him, his), PrideVMC Board President, shares his excitement about upcoming PrideVMC Pride events, “Pride month is an important way to remember and celebrate our chosen family, our queer ancestors, and our community roots. It is also a way for us to remember that Pride celebrations started as protests and as a way for us to stand up for our rights. Here at PrideVMC, we have a lot of great events in honor and celebration of Pride month and we are excited to bring these events to you!”
PrideSVMC President, Kate Alucard (she, her) shares, “Pride month is not only a time for celebration but reflection; we must acknowledge that we are here today because of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) within our community championing for the ability to live as our authentic selves. Specifically, for our transgender and gender-nonconforming siblings of color that have lost their lives, may we take time this month to celebrate their legacies. Our future can only be bright if we carry their memories with us. We hope that Pride 2021 will strengthen our community and bring forth a future inclusive of all gender, romantic, and sexual identities.”
All events in the 2021 Pride calendar are supported by year-round PrideVMC partners including Boehringer Ingelheim, Zoetis, Banfield Pet Hospital, Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners, Covetrus, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Merck Animal Health, NVA, VCA, VEG, Nationwide Pet Insurance, and Relief Rover. Dr. Mia Cary, PrideVMC CEO, noted “We are grateful for these partnerships and our collective efforts as we strive towards a vision of an empowered LGBTQ+ veterinary community that embraces wellbeing by being their authentic selves. If you have any questions or if you have Pride related activities you would like included on our schedule, please contact info@pridevmc.org. We hope to see you in June to celebrate #VetMedPride because we are #BetterTogether! “
Dr. Cary commented “The mission of the Pride Veterinary Medical Community (PrideVMC) is to create a better world for the LGBTQ+ veterinary community. We do so by striving to foster acceptance and inclusivity for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender presentations within the veterinary medical profession and community. We fight discrimination, build collaborative networks, and support LGBTQ+ veterinary students through mentorship and scholarship programs. PrideVMC membership is open to the entire animal health and veterinary community regardless of role, race, color, religion, national origin or citizenship status, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, or military status. Allies are welcome! For more information please contact info@pridevmc.org.”