June 05, 2023 Celebrating PRIDE Month Friends of the Children is celebrating LGTBQIAP2S+ youth, Friends, and allies Belonging is one of Friends of the Children’s core assets in our work of always putting children first. When it comes to the social and emotional development of youth in our program, belonging is crucial, and it means: I understand who I am; I have a place where I feel accepted and know that my contributions count. Every child deserves unconditional love and acceptance, and at Friends of the Children we keep this in mind as we celebrate Pride Month this June and recognize the history, value, and contributions of LGBTQIAP2S people. Regardless of how youth or caregivers or staff identify, we celebrate them, and are proud of our LGBTQIAP2S community and the difference they make for our organization and our children. One of the extraordinary aspects of Pride is that its history is steeped in the tireless work of people who have often been marginalized and who have faced great obstacles including homophobia, transphobia, racism, and more. LGTBQIA2S history, in fact, hinges on the grit and determination of queer people of color from its early beginnings in Compton Cafeteria in San Francisco and Stonewall bar in New York City. Friends of the Children honors the courage of people living their authentic lives in communities across the country—rural and Indigenous, suburban and urban. This Pride Month, it is our hope that all children and caregivers feel a true sense of belonging and that they experience the acceptance they deserve. Supporting youth to feel that they belong is a critical part of putting children first.