A Diversity Message From Neil Meltzer - June 2019
June is LGBT Pride Month, a month dedicated to recognizing the contributions of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community to the United States. Members of the LGBTQ community ("Q" recognizes those who are questioning or queer) have significantly contributed to our nation through politics, entertainment, art, culture, medicine and science. The month of June was chosen to coincide with the Stonewall riots of June 1969, which brought the LGBTQ community's struggle for equal rights to the national forefront.
This month you'll see many pride events held to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. LifeBridge Health will be taking part in this year's Baltimore Pride Parade on Saturday, June 15 as well as the Baltimore Pride Festival at Druid Hill Park on Sunday, June 16. 
June 2, 1924 marked a pivotal day for the indigenous people of America. President Calvin Coolidge signed into law the Indian Citizenship Act, which granted citizenship to all Natives born in the United States. While the Act did not offer natives voting rights and natives continued to face many other discriminatory practices and barriers, the Act did correct some inequities natives faced before 1924. As U.S. citizens, Native Americans were also able to retain their tribal affiliations and thus cultural traditions.
On Flag Day, June 14, people across the nation will honor the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States in 1777. Also nicknamed the "star-spangled banner," the flag represents freedom and for many an enduring symbol of the country's ideals. To honor this day, people will display the U.S. flag at their homes and participate in Flag Day services, musical salutes and parades.
On June 19, Juneteenth (also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day) commemorates the end of one of the most shameful periods in American history-slavery. After the Civil War ended, although slaves were legally set free with President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, many slaves did not know. On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform the community of the abolition of slavery and that the remaining 250,000 slaves there were free.
For many, June 19 has become the African-American addendum to our national Independence Day that commemorates African American freedom. Some traditions include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation and literature from notable African-American writers, as well as attending fairs and cookouts.
June 21 is Summer/June Solstice or what we refer to as the official beginning of summer. This is the longest day of the year with the Sun reaching both its highest and northernmost points in the sky. A range of events are held globally to celebrate the summer solstice including fairs and festivals, as well as a midnight sun baseball game (in Alaska), an Indigenous festival (in Ontario, Canada), decorating maypoles and traditional dancing (in Sweden) and creating mountaintop bonfires (in Austria). Whatever your plans are this season, I wish you and your family a safe and happy summer.
At LifeBridge Health, we celebrate both what makes us diverse and unique, and what makes us the same - our shared purpose of caring for communities together.