OHR June Newsletter – Director’s Message
Dear Residents, Neighbors, and Friends:
Happy Pride Month, DC!
June has been a festive and eventful month for our office, beginning with the kickoff of 2025 World Pride alongside the Mayor and our community. As Pride Month continues, our team has been actively engaging with both local and international constituents through a variety of impactful events, including Black Pride, Trans Pride, the Human Rights Conference, the Community Conversations Summit, and the Annual DC Pride Parade. You may have seen our Protecting Your Pride and Safety poster or spotted Team OHR sharing resources and outreach buttons!
Pride Month, celebrated every June, traces its origins to the Stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York City. Since then, it has become a time to honor the diverse identities within the LGBTQIA+ community while raising awareness of ongoing challenges the community faces. While this year’s parades, marches, and other cultural events may have concluded, I want to reaffirm that protections and rights for LGBTQIA+ community members are always in place. For more details on protected traits in DC, be sure to explore our resource portal.
This month, I also had the privilege of testifying before the DC Council during a budget oversight hearing on June 10. It is always an honor to highlight the impact of our agency’s work and reaffirm our commitment to serving our community, empowering residents through knowledge and information. If you’d like to revisit the hearing, you can watch it online or read my official testimony on our website.
As I emphasized in my testimony, although we are navigating yet another challenging fiscal year and have made difficult decisions to preserve core services, our vital mission always remains. No matter the obstacles, I have full confidence that our team’s dedication will ensure that residents stay informed and empowered.
Stay connected with us on social media for updates on upcoming outreach events and training opportunities - we look forward to seeing you there!
In Solidarity,
Kenneth Saunders