CORA is proud to celebrate Pride Month this June alongside LGBTQ folks and allies in San Mateo County and across the nation. Pride Month is an important time for us to come together to celebrate one another’s identities while increasing awareness of the harm that happens to LGBTQ folks and fighting against transphobia, homophobia, violence, and discrimination.
The Bay Area has a long history of standing up against violence and oppression against LGBTQ+ folks, including in 1966 at Compton’s Cafeteria in the Tenderloin, where transwomen resisted against police violence and abuse. The Pride parade is an honoring of this continued tradition of resistance against police brutality at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 in New York City. In echo of trans activist, Donna Personna’s Pride mantra, “It ain’t a party. It’s time to act up.”
Intimate partner violence and systemic oppression are woven together. They influence and strengthen each other. When we hold prejudices against a group of people, people are more likely to justify causing them harm because of their identities. We are also less likely to intervene when they are harmed by their families or loved ones. LGBTQ+ folks have higher rates of intimate partner violence and sexual assault than heterosexual and cisgender people. BIPOC LGBTQ+ folks are disproportionately affected and experience increased barriers to receiving services from police, shelters, hospitals and other social service providers. Our trans family and friends are extremely vulnerable and in need of our support to be out and in relationships where they feel safe and loved.
Our relationships should be places of refuge, where our partner(s) build our confidence and encourage us to share our light – not tear our spirits down.
CORA provides support for all survivors of intimate partner violence and leads workshops for LGBTQ+ folks on red flags and healthy relationship skills. June is not the only month we make a strong commitment to increasing safety and support for LGBTQ survivors. Please reach out if you or your loved ones are experiencing harm in their relationship.
We strive to increase our services and awareness of abuse in the community. Pride Month is not just a recognition that we get to exist and have relationships. We hope that it is a celebration that encourages us to live healthy lives with people who love and respect us. When we are loved and respected for who we are, we create safer and healthier communities for us all.
