Happy Pride! The need to uphold the principles of equality and justice for all feels very acute right now. So as we celebrate Pride I wanted to take a moment to write about the critical intersections between women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights this Pride Month and beyond.
It’s not obvious but the struggle for women’s rights has historically been intertwined with the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Both movements have faced, and continue to face systemic discrimination, marginalization, and violence, all of which are rooted in patriarchal and heteronormative structures. One glaring example is the prevalence of violence against LGBTQ+ women, especially transgender women of color. Transphobia and homophobia is rooted in the same structural patriarchal gender discrimination that affects women and other marginalized genders.
Moreover, issues such as reproductive rights, healthcare access, and workplace discrimination intersect with LGBTQ+ rights. For instance, transgender individuals often face significant barriers to accessing gender-affirming healthcare, and lesbian couples may encounter discrimination when seeking fertility treatments or adoption services.
As leaders in the women’s rights movement, we have a responsibility to amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ individuals and actively support their rights. I am thinking of leaders like Dr. Rachel Levine, who made history as the first openly transgender person to be confirmed to a federal appointment by the United States Congress. Her appointment to assistant secretary for health in the Department of Health and Human Services coincides with an increase in anti-trans legislation across the USA. Lady Phyll co-founded Black Pride in 2004 to celebrate LGBTQ+ people of color and “to promote and advocate for the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual health and wellbeing” of these communities.” As one of the most prominent Black lesbians in Britain, Lady Phyll is a tireless activist in the fight for queer liberation as well as increasing the visibility and voice of people of color within the larger LGBTQ+ community. And in a country where homosexuality is criminalized and a bill entitled “Kill the Gays” was once introduced in parliament, Frank Mugisha risks his live to speak out for LGBTQ+ rights in Uganda. He founded “Icebreakers Uganda” and “Sexual Minorities Uganda” to support LGBTQ Ugandans who face stigma, violence, and isolation on a daily basis.
By uniting the efforts of women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights leaders, we can harness our collective power to change laws and enact meaningful policy reforms,
Together, we can build a future where all individuals are free to live authentically, without fear of discrimination or oppression.