For well over a decade, June has been home to both LGBT Pride Month and Caribbean American Heritage Month.

The Los Angeles Pride Parade celebrates its 50th anniversary this year – at a point in history that couldn’t be more timely. The parade has always taken place in June to commemorate the Stonewall Riots of 1969, an uprising that took place when Marsha P. Johnson, a black, transgender woman, and other members of the LGBTQ+ community, fought against police violence and oppression. This year’s parade organizers, who originally cancelled the event because of the COVID-19 pandemic, decided instead to march in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, bringing together two movements to engender a unified voice for a common cause – to be heard and to demand change.

This June is also the 15th annual commemoration of Caribbean American Heritage Month, a time to promote the rich culture and heritage of the Caribbean people and to honor the impact they and their descendants have made on America’s history.

We wanted to take this opportunity to recognize the history and impact of both groups of people by sending you a few articles that recognize the LGBT and Caribbean American communities and their influence on the world around us.