RAV Celebrates LBGTQ+ Pride Month

June is LBGTQ+ Pride Month! Raising A Village Foundation is honored to showcase and salute the strides that have been made by some of this community’s most prominent leaders and activists. In this edition of the Village Voice, we turn the spotlight on the literary works of Audre Lorde an African American poet, essayist, librarian, feminist, and equal rights activist who dedicated both her life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia. We also pay homage to the life and legacy of politician and activist Harvey Milk, who made history as the first openly gay elected official in California and the United States. Finally, we acknowledge the heartfelt triumphs of transgender supermodel, writer, producer, advocate, and public speaker, Geena Rocero, who broke the internet when she came out as transgender during a TED Talk. Her inspiring speech has since been viewed close to five million times and has been translated into thirty-two languages.  

Each of these innovators has shared their lives with the world. So, we would like to share a glimpse of their greatness through the lens of these powerful quotes:

“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
― Audre Lorde, Author | Poet | Activist

"I know that you cannot live on hope alone, but without it, life is not worth living.”

― Havey Milk, Politician | Activist

“All of us are put in boxes… Some people have the courage to break free. We can cling to our individualism all we want, but in truth we are all deeply connected to each other because on some level, we [are] each other.”

― Geena Rocero, Model | Activist