By: Dennis Richmond, Jr.
My name is Dennis Richmond, Jr., and I’m a 26-year-old young man from Yonkers, New York. As a millennial, I’ve seen events and a lot of things change in my lifetime. In September 2011, the same month that I entered eleventh grade, the “Occupy Wall Street” movement took place in New York City. The same year, the world watched as New York legalized same-sex marriage. In 2015 Pope Francis visited the United States, making stops in New York and Philadelphia. That same year, the world watched as the landmark civil rights case, Obergefell v. Hodges changed America forever.
On June 26th, 2015, the case ruled that same-sex couples were guaranteed the right to marry. Same-sex marriage wasn’t just a northern thing anymore. It was an American thing. People in the LGBTQIA+ Community would no longer have to worry about whether they could marry their significant other. Almost six years later, I ask other young adults, “where do we go from here?” Many young adults aren’t worried about fighting for the future of the LGBTQIA+ Community.
The generations that came before us fought for our rights and pushed the culture forward. James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, and Alice Walker moved the culture forward through their writing. Activists Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Bayard Rustin pushed the culture forward by voicing their opinions. In my opinion, there are three things that young folks in the LGBTQIA+ Community should keep in mind:
- Don’t Forget the T: LGBTQIA+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Ally, and Others, Respectfully. The Trans Community has always had to fight for its rights. Many people turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to trans rights. Trans women, especially young trans women of color, are constantly assaulted and murdered. Often, there isn’t a huge outcry. As we push forward as a culture, it’s imperative that we big up our trans community.
- We Won’t Be Young Forever: We have to plan for the future. That means members of the Community sharing resources with others. Resources include LGBTQIA+ friendly places of employment, housing opportunities, and even food when it’s necessary. We also have to encourage each other to further our education, and we have to build a support system amongst each other.
- We’re Not Done Yet: Lastly, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done in the LGBTQIA+ Community. Dating apps and social media apps could be a gift and a curse. We have to remind each other to be extremely careful at all times. Safety matters. With that, many families still don’t understand their gay son, their trans daughter, or their gender non-conforming siblings. Regardless, we need to make sure that their safety is always the top priority.
Happy Pride Month, Love
Dennis Richmond, Jr., M.S.Ed., Founder and Director, The NYNJ HBCU Initiative
