June is a time for celebration, reflection and commemoration as we recognize Pride Month, Juneteenth and the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Learn more about Woodside’s commitment to championing diversity and ensuring equal housing for all.
Equality and inclusivity do not exist without struggle. They don’t exist without brave, strong, incredible people and communities who stand for and alongside each other to create safer, more welcoming spaces in this world. The month of June is an especially humbling reminder of this fact as we’ve been taking pause to celebrate Pride and recognize Juneteenth and the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
While Pride Month is a celebration of the joy, strength, and beauty of the intersectional LGBTQ+ community, it is also a time to reflect on the tremendous struggle LGBTQ+ people have faced and overcome throughout history. That includes the Stonewall Riots as we know it today. We also honor Juneteenth, a celebration of emancipation.
In recognizing and educating ourselves and our communities on the critical significance of these historical events and holidays, we find ourselves reflecting on our role in creating safer, more diverse, more equal spaces for communities across the country.
At Woodside Homes, we wholeheartedly believe that true equality includes equal access to safe, quality housing – that not only includes the buildings themselves, but the way the people in the buildings are supported and cared for. No one is truly equal until we all have access to affordable, secure spaces to call home.
Observing the Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots
The impact of the Stonewall Riots on the LGBTQ+ rights movement can absolutely not be understated. Though June’s Pride celebrations often emphasize celebration (as they rightfully should), it is critical that we take time to remember the struggle LGBTQ+ ancestors and elders faced on behalf of today’s generation and beyond.
The Stonewall Riots are considered to be the cornerstone of the Pride movement as we know it today. On June 28, 1969, a 6-day series of events between police and the LGBTQ+ community in New York City after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a historic gay club. Though this was neither the first time police raided a gay bar nor the first time the LGBTQ+ community fought back, it’s considered an event that fundamentally shifted the conversation about LGBTQ+ rights in America.
Yet through this discourse, there is not nearly enough emphasis on the fact that the leaders of this movement were primarily BIPOC individuals, two of the most known being Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera.
These riots were a catalyst for change in the LGBTQ+ community that continues to have a tremendous impact on the community to this day. That’s why we will always remain wholeheartedly committed to promoting equal treatment and housing for all, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, background, or religion. Safe housing is a major part of the fight for equality, and we’re fully invested in it.
Honoring Juneteenth
Within the conversation around equal housing comes a discussion of race – are people of all races and nationalities truly treated the same way when they apply for an apartment, buy a home or move into certain communities?
Unfortunately, this remains an ongoing battle, and it’s a major reason why it’s so critical to acknowledge the major historical events that have laid the foundations in the fight for equality. One such event is Juneteenth, a commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865.
Juneteenth itself not only honors the emancipation itself, but the post-emancipation period (known as Reconstruction), during which time formerly enslaved people began reunifying their families, running for political office, suing slave owners, and many more acts of integrating into society and regaining autonomy and freedom.
Yet, that was only one part of a movement that continues to this day – inclusivity and equality in the housing sector are still very much a work in progress, especially in light of these historical racial inequities. Black families remain displaced at much higher rates than their white counterparts, and access to housing remains unequal and often unsafe.
Embracing Pride Month
The entire month of June is a celebration of Pride, a time to uplift, empower, and embrace the entire spectrum of the bold and beautiful LGBTQ+ community and all of their achievements and expressions. It’s a time to celebrate every aspect of intersectional LGBTQ+ individuals for exactly who they are. And in this month of joy, positivity, and community, we must also remain grounded in the fight for true equality, which inherently includes the housing sector as well.
By championing diversity and inclusion in our commitment to equal housing for all, we hope to create safer, more welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals and families to find their home in a Woodside community.
Commitment To Diversity and Inclusion At Woodside Homes
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion at Woodside Homes extends far beyond a single month – this is a year-round, all-inclusive and 24/7 commitment to showing up for every single person in our communities and making sure everyone feels they have equal access and support when it comes to finding a home, whether that’s here at Woodside or elsewhere.
A Woodside Home Is For Everyone
A truly fair, safe, and inclusive society demands housing opportunities that champion POC, Black, and LGBTQ+ communities and make it as easy for them to find secure spaces to live as everyone else. Absolutely nothing should stand in the way of anyone trying to find a great place to put down roots, raise a family, or become the best version of themselves. This is why the Fair Housing Act and its accompanying FHA accommodations are so critical.
But exactly what is the Fair Housing Act, and who is protected by it? Simply put, the Fair Housing Act protects people from being discriminated against based on race, color, disability, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or familial status when buying or renting a home or engaging in any house-securing activities. Ensuring FHA accommodations are consistently met is how we put community first – it means everyone can feel safe about finding a home in a place where they can thrive and be supported as their authentic selves. We sincerely hope all of our community members, readers, and supporters will join our campaign to celebrate diversity – advocating for equality in their own communities and beyond.
