PrideVMC Press Release San Francisco, CA February 8, 2022 PrideVMC Celebrates Gender Identity Bill of Rights Signatories On June 9, 2021 the Pride Veterinary Medical Community (PrideVMC) diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) working group published a Gender Identity Bill of Rights (GIBOR) as part of a focused effort to address inequality and inequity throughout the entire veterinary profession. 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. PrideVMC acknowledges the importance of clear and unequivocal commitment to equality, equity, and the human rights of the transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals of our diverse LGBTQ+ family in a time where the acceptance of our brethren by the general public is uncommon. Today we celebrate the 384 individuals and 59 organizations that have signed their support for the Gender Identity Bill of Rights including
- The first individual to sign their support: Andrew Peregrine, BVMS, PhD, DVM, DipEVPC, DipACVM (he/his/him),
- The first organization/workplace to sign their support: Whispering Pines Pet Clinic in Magalia, California,
- Groups within the community of affinity organizations: ARVARVA (Australian Rainbow Veterinary Association), Association of Asian Veterinary Medical Professionals (AAVMP), BlackDVM Network, British Veterinary Ethnicity & Diversity Society (BVEDS), British Veterinary LGBT+, Latinx VMA (LVMA), Multicultural Veterinary Medical Association (MCVMA), National Association for Black Veterinarians (NABV), Native American Veterinary Association (NAVA), Pride Student Veterinary Medical Community (PrideSVMC), and Women’s Veterinary Leadership Development Initiative,
- The PrideVMC partners that have signed on as of today: Boehringer Ingelheim USA Inc., Ethos Veterinary Health, and Simply Done Tech Solutions,
- The veterinary schools and related entities that have signed their support as of today: Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island; College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota; Colorado State University DVM Program; The University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, Diversity and Inclusion; University of California Davis Veterinary Medical Center; and University of Minnesota CVM Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and
- All that have signed their support are included at the end of the GIBOR.
We are calling on all members of the veterinary profession to recognize the existence, humanity and worth of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people in our profession. We ask that you continue this journey with us by signing on to support PrideVMC’s Gender Identity Bill of Rights by completing the signatory form. A follow up implementation guide, the Gender Diversity Guide, will be published later this year. All individuals and organizations that sign and commit to the bill of rights will be provided access to the manual. In this way we acknowledge that the safe and productive existence of gender diverse individuals is a paramount priority rather than a subject of interest to be defined. Please join us for tonight at 7:00-8:00pm CT for the PrideVMC Q1 virtual Town Hall where the GIBOR and other PrideVMC priorities will be discussed. For more information please contact info@pridevmc.org and review the PrideVMC Annual Impact Report – 2021. _______________ 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! *****************
