June is Pride Month and it is celebrated each year to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was the beginning for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. It is important because it marked the start of huge changes within the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community as well as the wider societal implications. According to the Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/lgbt-pride-month/about/), Memorials are held during this month for those members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS. The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.

Pride Month is an opportunity to raise awareness of current issues facing the community. Although attitudes and injustice remain, they have come a long way since the riots of 1969 and continue to raise awareness, improve the attitude of society and encourage inclusiveness.

The Jason Foundation supports LGBT and offers a one-hour online module called, “Supporting LGBT Students in Schools: Suicide Prevention Among LGBT Youth.” The module is free and on our website: www.jasonfoundation.com. The training module examines how suicide affects the LGBTQ community and how the school environment can have an impact on a young person’s life.

In Texas, every .57 days or < 1 day on an average a young person (ages 10-24) is lost to the “Silent Epidemic” of youth suicide according to the latest CDC’s WISQARS National Data Reporting (2018).

The Jason Foundation is dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth suicide through educational programs that equip youth, parents, educators, and the community with the tools and resources to identify and assist at-risk youth. By knowing the warning signs, and knowing how to help, you could save a life. Please share and promote JFI as a resource in support of June being Pride Month.