Greetings PrideVMC Members,
Happy Pride month everyone! One of the most important aspects of Pride month for me is the time to reflect and recognize the origins of pride as a protest. Over fifty years ago, black and brown trans women and queers fought back against oppression, stood up and said we are not going to take this anymore, and the queer pride movement was born. This fact is often overlooked and many of the pride events that I have attended over the years have felt like a celebration of white queerness, they have felt to me as though a big piece was missing.
When PrideVMC re-wrote our strategic priorities last year after the murder of George Floyd, we wanted to focus on providing education and advocacy through the lens of intersectionality and anti-racism. Now during Pride month, it is especially important to look through this lens. While we strive to look through this lens year-round, I invite all of you this month to focus on our queer history, let’s remember and recognize the sacrifices of our BIPOC queersestors. Let’s remember and recognize that June is Pride month and that centered in our high holy gay days is Juneteenth, the official celebration of the freedom of African Americans from slavery. Let’s recognize and celebrate this intersection.
Let’s not pay lip service to our black and brown brothers, sisters, and queerdos, and really do the work to make the changes that our community needs and deserves. As our organization works on current initiatives such as the Gender Identity Bill of Rights, let’s not forget that we are standing on the shoulders of folks like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. These transwomen of color are the foundations of our history, and we honor and celebrate them this month.
Let us honor and celebrate all the members of our community that not only look through this lens of intersectionality but live it every day. Let’s recognize our privilege and use it to lift up everyone so that we can continue to make things better for the LGBTQ+ veterinary community and the world! Happy Pride and Happy Juneteenth!
Gender Identity Bill of Rights
Thanks to the efforts of our DEI working group, the Gender Identity Bill of Rights has been published!
This document is as part of a focused effort to address inequality and inequity in veterinary spaces. The gender diverse community, specifically transgender women of color, have been leaders of the struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. The gender diverse community has continued to be in the national spotlight for the last decade, targeted with restroom bills, medical access bills and identity legislation highlighting the need for continued activism and allyship. The Gender Identity Bill of Rights serves as a launch point for the profession to learn about and ally with the gender diverse community, and we look forward to positive change that this document will create. Please share far and wide.
Pride 2021 Events
PrideVMC meet-up at VMX 2021
Pride 2021 is here! Details and registration links for a variety of events and activities (including the three highlighted below) can be found on our website in the Upcoming Events section of our calendar and HERE. In addition, thanks to Dr. Caitlin DeWilde, we have a new PrideVMC Facebook frame that is available now. During Pride month we are increasing the frequency of our social media spotlights to daily and we invite you to participate! To do so please complete the short spotlight survey, and remember you only need to complete the questions that resonate with you.
The Intersectionality of DEI and Vet Med
Monday, June 14 @ 7:00-8:00pm CT
Are you interested in increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in veterinary medicine? Or perhaps you are looking for a position with a practice or organization that values DEI? If so, join us on Monday, June 14, 2021 at 7:00pm CT for a radically candid discussion on antiracism and allyship. PrideVMC President Dr. Dane Whitaker will serve as host for this event as he welcomes Dr. Kemba Marshall, founder of Marshall Recruiting Consortium (MRC). Dr. Marshall will share an overview of her background as well as the purpose and priorities of Marshall Recruiting Consortium.
**As prep for the event, send at least one question for Dane and Kemba to info@pridevmc.org by this Monday at 8am CT and receive a free stethoscope pronoun clip courtesy of Marshall Recruiting Consortium!**
Vet Med Pride Celebration
Thursday, June 17 @ 7:00-8:00pm CT
Join cohosts PrideVMC Treasurer Erin Spencer, M.Ed, CVT, VTS (ECC) and PrideVMC Member Dr. Erika Lin-Hendel for a celebration of Pride month 2021. We will have virtual spaces for a variety of ways to celebrate. Being part of the group doesn’t have to mean active participation. Just joining the call is enough to gain some positive vibes and we welcome you to just listen in, hear stories, watch a game, or listen to tunes. Read on for descriptions of the festivities
Chill and Chat: This breakout room will be for those who just want to relax, share stories, and learn about and from each other.
Game On: If you are looking for a little higher activity level, join this group to connect through playing online games.
Dance Party: Music will be the main theme in this room. Bring your dance moves for a virtual dance party.
Pride Celebration with PrideVMC and the BlackDVM Network
Monday June 21 @ 7:00- 8:00pm CT
Join PrideVMC Board President Dr. Dane Whitaker and BlackDVM Network Founder Dr. Tierra Price with special guests including USDA-FSIS Technical Trainer Donja Pettiford, MFS, as our communities come together to honor and celebrate Pride month 2021. The first half of the event will be Q&A format with our cohosts and guests, and the second half is a….DANCE PARTY!
Everyone is welcome, so join us!
Speakers Bureau Application
If you are interested in participating in the PrideVMC Speakers Bureau please complete the survey linked HERE and stay tuned for a speaker orientation and onboarding process coming later this year.
Gratitude
Thank you to our year-round Partners and welcome to Covetrus and Merck Animal Health as PrideVMC Gold Partners! Because of the financial support and collaborative efforts from our partners and our members, we are making progress towards our vision of an empowered LGBTQ+ veterinary community that embraces wellbeing by being our authentic selves.
Diamond Partners – Boehringer Ingelheim, Zoetis
Gold Partners – Banfield, BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital, Covetrus, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Merck Animal Health, NVA, VCA, VEG
Silver Partner – Nationwide Insurance
Sapphire Partner – Relief Rover
Hope to see you soon!
Regards,
Dane
Dane Whitaker, DVM, MPVM
PrideVMC Board President
