ICFO Celebrates Pride in STEM
A day dedicated to showing support for the LGBTQ+ people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
November 18, 2020 is Pride in STEM Day, an international initiative to show support for LGBTQ+ people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. By supporting a safe and inclusive environment where all are free to express ourselves, we create a space where all contributions are welcome and science can flourish.
This year’s Pride in Sday is in honor of American astronomer and activist Frank Kameny (1925-2011). Kameny was fired from the US Army Map Service and barred from any future federal employment for refusing to provide information about his sexual orientation. His legal battle was the first of sexual orientation discrimination to reach the US Supreme Court on November 18th 1960. In spite of its unsuccessful appeal before the highest court, the 2020 PRIDE in STEM Day commemorates the 50th anniversary of the event as well as Kameny’s life-long LGBT activism through which he won many other battles for equality.
This celebration of PRIDE in STEM at ICFO marks a growing awareness within ICFO of issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community as well as a growing commitment from all areas of the institute to build an inclusive, diverse, accepting, welcoming, and safe place for all ICFOnians.