On June 14, the USC Leonard Davis School celebrated Pride with presentations from students and faculty, followed by a special performance by artist Felony Dodger. Here are some featured quotes from the event speakers:
“This is why we have pride. To remind you that you are loved and you are someone’s reason to be happy.”
Ryo Sanabria, Assistant Professor, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
“Although pride is a movement about gay and queer rights and liberation it has come to be about so much more. Pride is about bringing kindness and understanding to all aspects of the human condition.”
Bennett Van Camp, Biology of Aging PhD student, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology
“Representation in research provides a voice. Silence can equal death. Pride is about being inclusive and being seen.”
Paul Nash, Instructional Associate Professor, USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology on the lack of data about sexuality and sexual health
“We don’t collect sexual orientation data on death. Our lives and our deaths count and they should be counted.”
John Blosnich, Assistant Professor and Director of the Center for LGBTQ+ Health Equity, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work on the need collect vital statistics on deaths among LGBTQ populations
