In celebration of Pride Month, RMUoHP‘s Student Diversity Committee (SDC) has issued a statement, which was endorsed by the University President, Dr. Rick Nielsen.
Official Pride Month Statement from SDC
June 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Pride Month, a time to celebrate sexual and gender diversity and to honor the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Pride Month is a cause for celebration but it is important to remember that it started as a riot and protest to existing, safe spaces for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Transgender, Intersex, and other gender and sexually diverse identities and orientations (LGBTQI+) that were targeted for harassment and removal by local government officials and police.
Since then, there has been a tireless fight to obtain equal rights and opportunities for LGBTQI+ individuals. While some progress has been made, LGBTQI+ individuals are unfortunately still heavily stigmatized and discriminated against; this is especially true for transgender and black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) who are members of the LGBTQI+ community. Through all the adversity, the community remains courageous, resilient, and prideful.
For Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and the Student Diversity Committee, Pride Month is a time to reaffirm our support for the LGBTQI+ community and our motivation to help the community obtain full and equal rights. We recognize the healthcare system has a history of discriminating against the LGBTQI+ community and that many of its members still do not feel safe in a health facility. There continue to be significant healthcare disparities among this group such as suicide, sexual assault, family and peer rejection, and being victims of violence.
RMUoHP and the SDC stand for the equitable treatment of LGBTQI+ individuals and have zero tolerance for anyone who opposes equality for LGBTQI+ individuals or discriminates against them. The members of RMUoHPand the SDC seek to end these disparities and will defend LGBTQI+ Americans from those who wish to silence and erase them. We must continue to combat the marginalization of this community in order to uphold the democratic ideals of which this country was founded on. We firmly believe love is love. Please watch for more discussion on this topic from the SDC this month.
Student Diversity Committee Pictured Above: Top Row (left to right) – Andrea Gutierrez, Andrew Park, Eliana Rivera, Ethan Germann, Jamie Baab. Bottom Row (left to right) – Madelaine Hubbell, Monica Madhavpeddi, Sebastian Brunning, Morgan Louie, Tori Thomason.
