Living Our Shared Values: Celebrating Pride Month 2023
The following message from Antwan Lofton, Vice President of Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer, Duke University & Duke University Health System, was delivered to staff and faculty on June 5, 2023.
June is Pride Month, a time when we recognize and celebrate our LGBTQ+ friends, colleagues and family members who have fought through the years to be recognized and respected for the individuals they are.
Pride Month was born out of the “Stonewall Uprising” in 1969 when the LGBTQ+ community stood up against police brutality and discrimination in New York City. Since then, Pride has become a global movement, with celebrations and events held in cities around the world.
While some may still attempt to divide and discriminate, Duke embraces the values of respect and inclusion for all community members and seeks to create a welcoming environment where our LGBTQ+ community feels a sense of belonging as they advance education, research, and patient care at one of the world’s premier universities.I encourage you to embrace our values every day by helping to create an inclusive and equitable environment for everyone.
Our collective success depends on each of us bringing our unique talents and authentic selves to the work we do together. What you do makes a difference and is the reason why Duke is one of the best places to work for diversity.