Dear PrideVMC Members,
This is normally a quiet time, the lull of summer sets in after the high activity of Pride month. Maybe you are settling in for a relaxing summer vacation or getting some much-needed R&R. At PrideVMC, we are not resting! We have continued to be busy working to uphold our mission and vision of making a better world for the LGBTQ veterinary community.
Specifically, I would like to highlight the incredible work that our DEI working group has been doing around improving the rights and awareness for gender diverse individuals in our profession. The DEI WG gender identity subgroup has crafted the Gender Identity Bill of Rights (GIBOR), a document to raise awareness about the human rights of non-binary, transgender, and gender non-conforming individuals. This document highlights the minimum civil rights expectations for gender diverse individuals. I encourage all of you to read this document available on our website to educate yourself on these basic rights.
Many in our community are under attack with the plethora of anti-trans legislation that threatens access to health care and fans the fires of bigotry and hate. So, while many are relaxing and perhaps resting with a sense of security in the Supreme Court’s ruling last summer protecting individuals from discrimination if they are gay or trans (Bostock vs. Clayton), let’s also recognize the importance of the recent interpretation of this ruling to extend title nine protections for transgender students. In other words, let’s not wait to react to the swing of the pendulum.We have taken some huge steps forward in the fight for LGBTQ+ civil rights with this ruling and subsequent interpretations, so now is the time to really raise awareness around these issues in our profession. In the LGBTQ+ community, we are so familiar with the 3 steps forward, 5 steps back phenomenon. Now is the time to keep the momentum going forward, let’s not wait for the backslide. Please take some time to read the Gender Identity Bill of Rights, give us your feedback, and help us continue to make a better world for LGBTQ+ folks in our community and beyond!
PrideVMC 2021 Virtual Annual Meeting & Happy Hour
Please join us on Tuesday, August 10 at 7pm CT for the 2021 PrideVMC Annual Meeting and Happy Hour cohosted by PrideVMC President Dr. Dane Whitaker and PrideVMC President-Elect Dr. Abby McElroy. During the meeting we will share insights from the 2021 member survey, discuss current priorities, and spend time in breakout conversations connecting with colleagues and meeting new friends. This event is for PrideVMC members and anyone interested in learning more about our organization. Everyone is welcome!
Gender Identity Bill of Rights
As mentioned in President Dane’s opening comments, 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 and join us on September 14 to discuss the GIBOR during our virtual event “Gender Identity in Veterinary Medicine”.
AVMA Brave Space Certificate ProgramPrideVMC is a founding educational partner for the newly launched AVMA Brave Space Certificate Program with several modules authored by PrideVMC members. The program is currently free for AVMA members and also for all PrideVMC members! The link to register for the program is HERE and the access code for PrideVMC members is: PRIDEVMC1.
Working Groups (WGs)
Thank you to all of the members that are already engaged with the five very active working groups (WG) listed below. Please contact us at info@pridevmc.org to learn more and to join us.
DEI WG
Education & Events WG
Mentoring WG
Merch WG
Social Media WG
Gratitude
Thank you to our year-round Partners! Because of the financial support and collaborative efforts from our partners and our members, we continue to 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
Looking forward to seeing you at the August 10th virtual annual meeting!
Regards,
Dane
Dane Whitaker, DVM, MPVM
PrideVMC Board President
