Pride Month: What We’ve Learned

You might know Dominique Jackson for her awe-inspiring performance as Elektra on “Pose.” She’s also a pioneer within the queer community, supporting and giving to those in need. Jackson knows the struggle to prove herself — even to her loved ones — all too well. “I wanted to prove to my mother that being trans didn’t mean that I was some degenerate. It’s about the mindset, and the mindset is love.” Watch Jackson talk about her journey on OZY’s “Defining Moments” streaming on Hulu.

An actress/comic/writer/producer, Waithe recently contributed to the Showtime series “The Chi” and the semi-autobiographical “Twenties” on BET. She has become a power broker while remaining authentically herself and speaking up for the Black and LGBTQ communities without reservation. We first told you about Waithe in 2015, when she was fresh off a slew of ecstatic reviews over her appearance in the Netflix original comedy series “Master of None.”

A longtime leader of the World Cup–winning U.S. Women’s National Team, Rapinoe speaks her mind — vehemently — when it comes to Donald Trump, LGBTQ rights, pay discrimination or any number of social justice causes. She was the first white athlete to kneel during the national anthem in 2016 in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick (The U.S. Soccer Federation subsequently banned kneeling during the anthem, before overturning that ban in 2020). Rapinoe also knows how to pass: She handed over her social accounts to queer Black woman Fresco Steez to speak out, as part of the #ShareTheMicNow campaign.

Swati Bidhan Baruah has made history as the third transgender judge in India, and the first in her state of Assam. And she’s using her position to take on India’s Supreme Court over the controversial National Register of Citizens list, which requires citizens to prove that their families were living in India before 1971. The list is especially damaging to transgender people who have been ostracized or shunned by their families, making it impossible for them to obtain proof of their family’s citizenship.

Gender identity is by no means a new craze or phenomenon. Roman emperors often feminized their appearances in portraits. Hijras, or members of India’s third gender, trace their origins back through ancient Hinduism. And in Mexico’s Oaxaca region, muxe — persons assigned the male gender at birth who later present and express themselves as women — are a centuries-old tradition.

Between 1 and 2 of every 1,000 people have a surgery to “normalize” their sex organs, often happening shortly after birth for babies whose genitals don’t completely align with those of a biological male or female — a condition known as intersex. But now there’s a growing movement to allow intersex people to make that choice themselves, rather than having parents and doctors make it for them before they know what’s going on.

Can changing the way we speak alter gender stereotypes? Yes, suggests a growing body of research. According to a 2011 study, societies with genderless languages — such as Finnish, Chinese and the Bantu language system of Africa — have less gender inequality than countries with languages in which gender is central. Other countries like Argentina have considered making gender-neutral language mandatory during legislative proceedings.

on The Carlos Watson Show!

It is a movement born of protest — abusive police raids led to a revolt by patrons at Manhattan’s Stonewall Inn, and days of riots and protests gave birth to an organized effort to advance equality for LGBTQ people. There were no floats, no rainbows and no corporate sponsors — just courageous people who demanded freedom and equality. Today, protests and parades are not enough, argues Aisha C. Moodie-Mills, a seasoned political activist and LGBTQ advocate. The best way to counter a hostile political climate and to keep the spirit of the march alive, she says, is to run for office and increase LGBTQ political representation.

True inclusion in the workplace for LGBTQ individuals goes beyond being an equal opportunity employer, says William Kapfer, the global head of supplier diversity at JPMorgan Chase. Such inclusion also requires everyday actions to foster authenticity and should be woven into the very fabric of workplace culture. Employees, he says, should not feel obliged to leave part of themselves at home when they come to work. Pride is more than just a month; it’s a state of mind.

In an exploration of identity, gender and community, Jess T. Dugan, a St. Louis–based artist, uses photography to capture the intersection between individual identities and the search for intimate connections with others. Dugan first turned to photography at age 18 as a tool to explore the process of transitioning. Now seeking to encourage empathy, Dugan is shining a spotlight on many issues with which transgender persons struggle in private.

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