MEMORANDUM TO THE MARIST COLLEGE COMMUNITY

FROM: DENNIS J. MURRAY

As many know, June is Pride Month, a time in which we celebrate the many contributions of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals to our community, nation, and world.  Marist was pleased to be among the sponsors of the Poughkeepsie Pride parade that took place this past weekend, a role we have played since Poughkeepsie’s inaugural parade in 2019.

Pride Month also presents an opportune time to acknowledge the many contributions of Marist’s LGBTQ+ faculty, staff, and students.  We are grateful for the good work being done in support of our mission, and we know that our community is enriched by everyone’s active involvement in the life of the College.  The LGBTQ+ Subcommittee to the Marist Diversity Council and the Fox Pride student group are two excellent examples of our community members making Marist a better place for all.

For those who might not be familiar with the history, Pride Month is held in June to commemorate the protests at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village on June 28, 1969.  These demonstrations proved to be a major inflection point in the modern gay rights movement.  More than 50 years on, we applaud those who led the struggle to protect the civil liberties of the LGBTQ+ community and expand the definition of what constitutes a family.  We know there is still work to be done, but we will continue to advocate for a society in which all Americans can live their lives honestly, openly, and without fear.