June Pride and Juneteenth
It is part of WPCCU’s goal to celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) in the workplace. This month, we recognize Pride Month and observe Juneteenth as a federal holiday – also known as “Juneteenth Independence Day,” “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day.” WPCCU recognizes the contributions and influences of both in American history.
WPCCU’s DEIB Committee will be participating in a Pride Month celebration with the gathering our team members on Zoom, along with a Juneteenth Lunch & Learn. Our DEIB Committee is for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, and consists of thirteen team members who go above the scope of their work responsibilities to provide an environment that is inclusive and equitable, with a sense of belonging for all who work for WPCCU.
Observing Juneteenth
Observed on June 19 each year, Juneteenth was signed legislation in 2021 by President Biden, making it a federal holiday. Over the past few years, Juneteenth celebrations across the United States increased in the wake of the nationwide protests that followed the police killings of Black Americans including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in the summer of 2020. It's still daunting ‘til this day.
Juneteenth’s original celebrations involved prayer and family gatherings, and later included annual pilgrimages to Galveston, Texas, by former enslaved people and their families, according to Juneteenth.com. We encourage readers to dive into the important history by visiting history.com.
Pride Month
The LGBTQI+ community has launched Pride Month with celebrations to spread awareness with fervor and authenticity. The LA Pride Parade and Festival are among the most popular events known, and there are many more celebrations throughout the month. Please join us on our DEIB journey and read on further in this article to learn more about the movement and where it all began.
The Black Cat’s Pride History
We are paying homage to a historic-cultural monument The Black Cat. Stonewall is popularly known to have launched the LGBTQI+ revolution. However, before Stonewall, there was the Black Cat.
The Stonewall Inn was raided by police on June 28, 1969, in New York City’s West Village where they physically assaulted customers.
The Black Cat is in Los Angeles, California, in fact right up the street from WPCCU’s Sunset Branch Office in the Echo Park Area. This modest Art Deco building was the site of a 1967 police raid. The Black Cat in the 1960s was a gay bar attracting a largely working class clientele. At a New Year’s celebration, eight undercover police officers raided the bar. Patrons were beaten and dragged out into the street.
On February 11, 1967, hundreds gathered outside of the bar to peacefully protest police brutality. This event represents the early evolution of the LGBTQI + civil rights movement. The court case related to this incident was the first time in U.S. history that gay men were defended as equal under the U.S. Constitution. The court disagreed. The Black Cat was designated as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 2008.
We invite all readers to join the discussion below, and share any suggestions for our DEIB Committee.
We wish you a wonderful June Pride Month, and have shared the most popular Pride Month events for your enjoyment.
June 8 @ 1:00 pm - 11:00 pm
LA State Historic Park 1245 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA
June 9 @ 11:00 am - 3:30 pm
Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA
June 9 @ 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Hollywood Blvd Los Angeles, CA
FREE
June 14 @ 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
2024 LGBTQ+ Pride Night @ Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium 1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, United States
June 15 @ Mix in as early as 2:00PM for VIP, and 4:00pm for GA. After Party starts at 10pm and goes through 2am
2024 Pride is Universal @Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood 100 Universal City
Plaza, Universal City, CA, United States
June 22 @ 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Hollywood Forever Cemetery 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles
Join the discussion