This Sunday, Planned Parenthood of NYC Will March for LGBTQ Rights

In honor of Pride month this June, New Yorkers from every borough are coming together to celebrate, love and support our LGBTQ families and communities.

During the past few years, we have seen extraordinary progress on LGBTQ rights. However, vitriolic rhetoric against LGBTQ communities, especially transgender and gender nonconforming people, is frequently employed by politicians and public figures.

And it is this kind of rhetoric that translates into violence. This past year, the number of transgender individuals murdered in America hit a historic high. The horrific Orlando shooting is only the latest in a string of tragic attacks against the LGBTQ community.

As bills across the country prohibit individuals from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity, discrimination and harassment continue to climb.

At Planned Parenthood of New York City (PPNYC), we condemn these senseless bills and the violence that they help incite. Civil rights for all Americans are essential to our fight for reproductive rights, and we have long stood with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender and gender nonconforming people in the struggle for full equality--many of whom turn to us for health care, information, and education.

We know that LGBTQ communities face unique obstacles to obtaining and benefiting from sexual and reproductive health services. In addition to high rates of stress due to systematic harassment, LGBTQ people face low rates of health insurance coverage, high rates of HIV/AIDS and cancer, and high rates of discrimination from medical providers. LGBTQ people of color face even higher risks.

At PPNYC, we believe that everyone, regardless of their identities or their lived experiences, deserves access to high-quality health care--and to all the resources to live as they want.

This is why each of our five health centers in New York City--one in each borough--welcomes everyone who walks through our doors.

It's why we've worked to make our services more inclusive, updating clinical intake forms and medical records to reflect the reality that gender is not a binary.

It's why we deliver sex education that covers the full range of topics affecting sexual health and provide sensitive and accurate information and resources on sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity to youth, parents, and New Yorkers of all ages.

It's why we're pushing for comprehensive, age-appropriate sexuality education in NYC schools, including lessons on LGBTQ health and inclusivity.

It's why in 2017, we will begin offering hormone therapy for trans patients, because we know that it's an important step toward improving the lives of some trans New Yorkers.

It's why we applaud the New York City Council for passing landmark legislation that requires all single-occupancy bathrooms in New York City to become gender-neutral.

And it's why we're joining our neighbors in all five boroughs to celebrate Pride and will be marching alongside you to make it clear that the fight isn't over.

At PPNYC, we realize that our incredible patients and supporters are comprised of many different identities--and we're committed to helping them all receive the health care they need.

This Sunday, more than 300 PPNYC volunteers and supporters will join our staff as we reaffirm our commitment to the rights and health of our city's LGBTQ community.

At PPNYC, we see you. We care about you. Our doors are always open to you and we stand with you--no matter what.

Joan Malin is the President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York City (www.ppnyc.org).