THEN AND NOW: CELEBRATING ADVOCATES FOR BLACK AND LGBTQIA + EQUITY

June is a meaningful month for CYS, as it celebrates two causes at the heart of our work: Black and LGBTQIA+ equity. Both Juneteenth and Pride Month honor the ongoing pursuit of justice, inclusion, and liberation—values that guide our mission every day. The work we do would not be possible without the countless brave advocates, organizers, and changemakers who have fought for equity throughout history and continue that fight today. This June, we’re proud to highlight a few of those individuals - from past and present - whose leadership and courage inspire us.

Then: Al Edwards  Now: Angela Davis 

The story of Juneteenth is also a story of policy—how laws and public recognition can both reflect and shape progress. In the years following the Civil Rights Movement, former Texas State Representative Al Edwards championed legislation to make Juneteenth an official state holiday in Texas, helping secure its recognition in 1980. He continued advocating for broader recognition of Juneteenth throughout his career, laying important groundwork for the holiday’s eventual federal designation.(1)

Scholar, activist, and educator Angela Davis has been a leading voice calling attention to the lasting impacts of the War on Drugs, which disproportionately affects Black communities through policies that emphasize punishment and incarceration over support and prevention. Throughout her career, Davis has advocated for alternatives to these punitive systems, promoting approaches rooted in restorative justice, community investment, education, and public health. Her work challenges policymakers and communities to consider how systems can be designed to address harm while fostering healing, accountability, and opportunity. (2) 

Together, Edwards and Davis illustrate how the pursuit of equity extends across generations—from securing recognition of Black history and freedom through policy change to reimagining the laws, institutions, and systems that continue to shape our communities today.(3)

THEN: Marsha P. Johnson  NOW: Shannon Wilber

When people celebrate Pride Month today, they honor a movement shaped by advocates like Marsha P. Johnson. A Black transgender woman and activist, Johnson was a prominent figure in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, a series of protests that began after a police raid on the Stonewall Inn in New York City. (4) The uprising became a turning point in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and inspired the first Pride marches the following year. 

Beyond her activism, Johnson worked to support LGBTQIA+ youth, particularly those experiencing homelessness and discrimination. Her legacy remains relevant today, reminding us of the importance of creating safe, inclusive communities where all young people can feel supported, valued, and empowered to be themselves. 

Today, leaders continue working to ensure LGBTQIA+ rights are reflected in the systems that impact young people. Shannon Wilber has dedicated much of her career to advocating for LGBTQIA+ youth involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, with a particular focus on LGBTQIA+ youth of color in government custody. (5) Through her legal advocacy and policy work, Minter has pushed for safer, more affirming environments where young people can access the support and protections they deserve.

Her work remains especially important because LGBTQIA+ youth continue to face significant inequities within these systems, including higher rates of discrimination, harassment, and placement instability. 

If you would like to learn more about Pride Month, check out our previous blog post. 

Spotlight On National Pride Month