June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate diversity and inclusion within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community. We invite everyone to join us in showing support and solidarity as we make this Pride season the best one yet!
Pittsburgh Pride 2024 kicks off today, May 31, with festivities running through the weekend until June 2. Highlighting the celebration, the 2024 Pittsburgh Pride March and Parade will be held on Saturday, June 1. Pittsburgh boasts a vibrant LGBTQ+ community grounded in support and inclusivity, with Pride’s leadership reflecting the diversity of our city. Organized by local LGBTQ+ organizations, Pittsburgh Pride stands as a beacon of the Rust Belt's revival and a testament to the joy of honoring those who came before us.
We are proud to announce that the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, recognized 33 UPMC hospitals for their outstanding LGBTQ+ patient care policies and practices. Among these, eight hospitals received the designation of LGBTQ+ "Healthcare Equality Leaders," while 25 were named “Top Performers.” Nearly all clinical sites within our department were recognized. UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was named among the leaders, and UPMC Altoona, Bedford, Horizon, Jameson, Magee-Womens Hospital, McKeesport, Mercy, Passavant, Presbyterian, Shadyside, St. Margaret, and Williamsport were honored as top performers.
UPMC's commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community is further demonstrated through the LGBTQ+ Affirming Provider Designation. This initiative allows providers to designate themselves as LGBTQ+ Affirming Providers in the UPMC Provider and Find Care directories. The UPMC Health Plan, in collaboration with the Wolff Center, established this designation to help members find providers who can validate and respect the LGBTQ+ patient experience, fostering safe and welcoming patient-provider relationships. Our department is proud to have LGBTQ+ affirming providers dedicated to delivering comprehensive and compassionate care to all LGBTQ+ individuals, ensuring medical care that respects and affirms their identities. Any providers at UPMC interested in obtaining the LGBTQ+ Affirming Provider designation can find guidance on UPMC’s LGBTQIA+ Patient Care Resources page on Infonet (page requires UPMC network account login).
In honor of Pride Month, we share the following resources offered by the University of Pittsburgh:
Gender and Sexuality: Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace: This free online four-module course addresses important questions about sex, gender, and sexuality. It explores LGBTQ+ identities and their relationship to the workplace, offering key concepts to understand how identity shapes our experiences in culture and work. This course is essential for any profession and for understanding the world around us. Learn more
A Resource on Gender-Inclusive Language: This resource provides advice on creating an inclusive environment by avoiding misgendering and sexist language and using proper personal pronouns. Access this resource
Let’s come together this Pride Month to celebrate and honor the diversity within our community, standing united in support of equality and inclusion for all.
Happy Pride! 🏳️🌈