Members Share Progress as Pride Month 2023 Begins

For Jared Reece, secretary of the International’s Lavender Caucus and chair of the SEIU Local 1000 Lavender Human Rights Committee, Pride Month is about advocating for expanding the equality we fight for in the workplace for the political and social needs of the LGBTQ community.

As a web developer with the State Controller’s office and SEIU Local 1000 member, Jared is leading our partnerships with other SEIU locals and our International Lavender Caucus at Pride Events from Long Beach to San Francisco, Sacramento to Oakland, and at other locations across the state to raise awareness during this rising tide of political violence against the LGBTQ community.

“We’ve had more anti-LGBTQ legislation in this country in the last 6 months than in the last few years. We are working with organizers and our members to engage with data on these legislative pushes and to educate ourselves on how we can participate in the political process and develop our members, said Reece.”

Pride at Work, a bridge between LGBTQ groups and unions to talk about issues and needs of workers in their community, seeks to deepen the relationship between these groups and to develop organizing strategies for members.

“Labor has been important to our rights. Unions have worked together for so many of these social reforms, and members can lead the fight for legislation and ballot measures that can protect underserved communities.”

Additionally, we’re sponsoring an SEIU Local 1000 member who is participating in the AIDS/Life Cycle to raise money to address the ongoing impact of AIDS.

“We’re very concerned about marriage equality, the impacts that has on the dignity of the LGBTQ community, on health care, on end-of-life treatment, and power of attorney. We need to develop a platform to challenge these issues and inform the public.”