American Ballet Theatre’s Pride Nights celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersexed, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) dignity, equality, and visibility. The LGBTQIA+ ally community demonstrates diversity in its range of expressions of gender and sexual orientation and is diverse in race, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and socioeconomic class. This mix of identities fosters a wide range of perspectives and experiences that bolster a robust sense of pride, tenacity, and resilience.

Here are some facts and statistics about the LGBTQIA+ community:

• In 2013, 92% of adults who identify as LGBTQIA+ said they believe society has become more accepting of them than in the past 10 years^[1]. However, 42% of people who are LGBTQIA+ report living in an unwelcoming environment^[2].
• Today, there are 29 states where LGBTQIA+ Americans are not fully protected against discrimination. This includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, and public accommodations^[3].
• In 2004, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same sex marriage in the United States. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Obergefell v. Hodges, striking down all state bans on same-sex marriage and legalizing it in all fifty states and the District of Columbia^[4].
• Today, ALL members of the Queer Community can serve in the US Military due to the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Act of 2010 and the removal of restrictions for transgender persons in March of 2021^[1].
• Despite the strides taken to normalize queer acceptance in America, 60% of LGBTQIA+ students report feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, and 80% of gay and lesbian youth have reported severe social isolation^[5].
• LGBTQIA+ youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth and are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide^[6].
• Acceptance from at least ONE ADULT can decrease the risk of LGBTQIA+ youth attempting suicide by 40%. Transgender and non-binary youth who have their pronouns respected by most people in their lives are 50% less likely to attempt suicide^[6].

We see you, we accept you, and we honor you, because we are you.