Happy Juneteenth and Happy Pride!

We celebrate Juneteenth for the hard fought end of slavery in the United States. We continue to celebrate because black people still face discrimination, oppression, and inequality.

We celebrate Pride for love and acceptance all people! Marsha P. Johnson and other LGBTQ+
people threw bricks and took to the streets to say “We’re Here!, We’re Queer!, Get Used To It!” That tradition continues today.

As a gay brown man, I celebrate Juneteenth and Pride because of my personal experiences with
racism and homophobia. I remember it from my youth, and I see it today.

When I say I am a queer Mexican lawyer, I say it with extreme pride! I say it for the people who are experiencing hate right now. I say it for the people fighting tyranny and oppression. Most
importantly, I say it for myself because I’m not ashamed.

Sincerely,
Ben