To the Editor:

Upon reading a published submission to the Fillmore Gazette, I feel it is exigent that I write this letter.
In the submission, the author referred to a “traditional family” - I wonder what that means? One can assume this person is positioning a traditional family with a mother, father, and their biological children, not to exceed a certain number, most likely white, most likely Christian.

According to a 2020 study by the Pew Research Center, family structure is changing dramatically. The age of first-time mothers has increased as more families are waiting to conceive for a variety of reasons. The number of children per household has declined from 3-4 children in the 1970’s to an average of 2 children in 2020, and the instance for single-parent households has risen to 23%. For those ages 18-49, 44% have stated (also in a Pew Study) that they are not looking to have children at all.

Census Bureau data show a decline in two parents of opposite gender families raising biological children. Children may be raised by grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster parents or stepparents. They may be married or unmarried, straight or gay.
So, we have older mothers, less children, a higher instance of single parents, a greater number of people not having children, as well as non-parents raising children.

From there, how can we conclude what a “traditional family” is?
It is obvious in their timing that the author is speaking directly to June as LGBTQ+ Pride month. LGBTQ+ Pride is celebrated in June as remembrance, honoring the Stonewall riots that started a movement for LGBTQ+ equality. Tragically, we are seeing a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment throughout Ventura County and our nation in general.
Proclaiming June as Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community in Fillmore is a way to show support for the human rights work that this population has accomplished so far. Raising a Rainbow Flag is a way of showing solidarity with this marginalized community of your city that so desperately needs it.

Some question why we celebrate Pride. If we lived in a world where all people, regardless of intersecting identities were accepted, celebrated, and treated with equity and respect, we wouldn’t need a month of Pride. But we are still in a society that judges a person not by the actions they may take but by who they love, where they worship, and clearly what their family structure looks like.

To wit: Pride is important because someone in your city still feels it is better to be dead than to be gay.
With Gratitude,
Tess Allen, Executive Director, Diversity Collective Ventura County