Last week we were reminded of the bigotry and hatred that our community has and is still facing. Pride month is a time for celebration and reflection on our roots in protest. The unfortunate events that occurred via a hateful email exchange at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine have only served to solidify our commitment to fight for our rights. PrideVMC is committed to advocating for and mentoring LGBTQ+ students in our profession and they deserve the support and assistance that our greater queer community can provide. Time and time again, our community has come together to stand up for the rights of our members and banded together to fight oppression and those who would bring us down. PrideVMC is here for our student members and will stand with them and advocate for them.
Our profession can only move forward when all of us are allowed to be our authentic selves, and we are strongly committed as an organization to support our student members in whatever way they need to reach this authenticity. While we staunchly reject the bigotry and hatred exhibited by this email event, we are reminded of our strength. This strength will allow us to uphold all members of our community including our most vulnerable, and to hold institutions accountable to protecting and honoring the values that PrideVMC bases our mission upon. This event, while traumatic, reminds us of the importance of our work, and to make that work universal; to apply to schools, workplaces, and individuals.
We come together as an organization to condemn any attack upon those who identify as LGBTQ+, especially students, and to continue to work to create a better world for the LGBTQ+ veterinary community.
Regards,
Dane
Dane Whitaker, DVM, MPVM
PrideVMC Board President
info@pridevmc.org
