Every June, Pride Month is celebrated internationally to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, considered a pivotal point for Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Across all major cities, this day would progress into a month-long celebration of pride parades, concerts, parties, and much more. However, Pride Month is also a time to host memorials as we acknowledge the discrimination and prejudice this community has experienced.
Historically, the LGBTQ community has more chances of experiencing harassment for simple everyday things such as clothing selection, the pronouns they use, or their bathroom choice. As the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy states, the LGBTQ community becomes even more visible when they move into cities. For that reason, they must be protected and given a safe space as they ride public transportation.
In 2017, a survey reported by The Center for American Progress asked transgender respondents which public places they have avoided, which demonstrated 10.9% avoided public transportation along with other public locations due to fear of discrimination.
Avantika Banerjee, the Deputy Chief Compliance Officer of NJ Transit, states the importance of public transportation for the LGBTQ community is providing a safe mode of transportation for individuals to have the freedom and pathway to access opportunities with reliable and safe rides. Banerjee concludes that creating a safe and accessible transit for vulnerable populations like the LGBTQ+ community is crucial to growing our economy, creating a community agency, and fostering stability.
At LANTA, we strive to provide this type of access and mobility to enhance the quality of life within our region, which entails providing an inclusive basic transportation service to all.
On this Pride Month and beyond, let’s come together to embrace love, equality, and acceptance while also honoring the ones not here today from our LGBTQ community for their bravery and activism.
To support local LGBTQ organizations in the Lehigh Valley area, the following are organizations you can learn more about:
Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center
Lehigh Valley Transgender Renaissance
LGBT Center of Greater Reading
Eastern PA Trans Equity Project
