Commemorating Pride Month 2024

Dear Howard University Community, 

As we usher in the vibrant and spirited month of June, it is with respect and a profound sense of solidarity that we join the global community in celebrating Pride Month. This month is a dedicated time to honor the courage, resilience, and significant contributions of our LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, staff, and alumni whose lives and stories have enriched our University in immeasurable ways. 

Pride Month is more than a celebration; it is a powerful reminder of the livelihood, resilience, and strength of the LGBTQIA+ community. At Howard University, we are proud of our history as a leader in the struggle for civil rights, human rights, and social justice. Our legacy is one of advocating for the rights and dignity of all people.  

This month, we continue this tradition by celebrating the LGBTQIA+ individuals who contribute to both the richness of Howard University and our society overall. I am grateful that the tapestry of this University contains the full spectrum of our collective humanity. This includes senior Jay Jones, who is poised to make history as the first trans woman to serve as the Howard University Student Association (HUSA) executive president, as well as the first trans woman to helm a student government at a historically Black college or university. Jones walks in the legacy of Howard exemplars who have paved the way for this moment. 

I would like to especially highlight the groundbreaking research and advocacy being carried out by our faculty and students in the fields of LGBTQIA+ studies, public health, and social justice. Our scholars continue to shed light on the experiences and challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, and ways to create more equitable and supportive social structures. We must continue to build on this foundation, ensuring that our campus is a beacon of inclusivity and respect.  

To our LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, and staff: your presence and contributions are integral to the radiant mosaic that is Howard University. We stand with you in solidarity and pride. 

Committed to Truth and Service,

Ben Vinson III, Ph.D.
President