June 10, 2021

Happy Pride Month!

Surely almost everyone has noticed it: colorful flags everywhere. Why? June is Pride Month. It's the month when the LGBTQIA+ community takes center stage - and rightfully so. Although equality between queer and straight should be a given, it hasn't been for long. Discrimination and attacks against queer people still occur in our society and this is exactly what this month is meant to draw attention to.

At MERSOR, we want to support the LGBTQIA+ community, advocate for equality, and make it clear that this company is a safe place for all people. Like many others, we're learning every day. That's why we've put together a list for you of ways you can stand up for the queer community.

Not stereotyping is a critical way to support the LGTBQIA+ community. People who are queer are diverse and can express themselves in all sorts of ways that are not necessarily related to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Supports businesses run by members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Informiert Euch. Bücher (und auch Dokumentationen, Serien und Filme) von LGBTQ+ Creators sind oftmals gute Informationsquellen. Eine Zusammenstellung aufschlussreicher Bücher zum Thema findet Ihr unter anderem beim Publisher Pinguin Random House.
Engages in conversations with transverse individuals and learns more about their experiences and history.

LGBTQIA+

WHAT DO THESE LETTERS ACTUALLY STAND FOR?

L
G
B
T
Q
I
A
+

Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Trans*
Queer / Questioning

Inter*
Asexual
and all others who feel they belong!

Lesbian
Gay
Bisexual
Trans*
Queer / Questioning

Inter*
Asexual
+ und alle anderen, sich zugehörig fühlenden!

Warum Juni?

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PRIDE MONTH

The background: In the summer of 1966, three New York mobsters decide to turn an old diner called the Stonewall Inn on Christopher Street in Manhattan into the biggest gay bar in the US. Why? They want to make a lot of money with as little effort as possible. Quickly, the Stonewall Inn became something very special, as it was the only place in New York where the LGBTQIA+ community could publicly celebrate with each other. The drawback: although alcohol flowed regularly in the pub, there was officially no liquor license - this was circumvented by regular payments to the local police. However, it so happened that the police assumed a great position of power and also exploited it.

Polizeirazzien & -gewalt waren im Stonewall Inn gang und gebe, denn das Lokal hatte keine Ausschanklizenz und war somit nicht berechtigt Alkohol zu verkaufen. Um eine Schließung zu verhindern bezahlten die Besitzer – aka die Mafia – die Polizei, was zur Folge hatte, dass diese ihre Machtposition völlig ausnutzten: Sie gingen im Stonewall Inn ein- und aus, beschlagnahmten Alkohol und verhafteten Gäste, welche am nächsten Tag in der Zeitung "New York Times" bekannt gegeben wurden. Da Homosexualität damals als Verbrechen galt, bedeutete dies für die Verhafteten meist Jobverlust und Verstoß von der eigenen Familie. Als Konsequenz nahmen sich viele Opfer das Leben.

Damit sollte nun Schluss sein: Vor 52 Jahren, genauer gesagt am 28. Juni 1969, hatten die Gäste genug von den andauernden Polizei-Razzien im Stonewall Inn. Die Polizei wollte mal wieder eine Razzia durchführen, doch diese stieß auf Gegenwehr. Die LGBTQIA+ Community begann gegen die Polizisten zu demonstrieren & randalieren – viele Passanten schlossen sich dem Protest an.

The June 28, 1969 riots mark the beginning of the LGBTQIA+ movement, which is thematized annually in June as part of Pride Month.