Pride Month 2024
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month celebrates the impact that LGBTQ individuals have had on society locally, nationally, and internationally. Pride Month is held in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.
Initially, the last Sunday in June was celebrated as "Gay Pride Day" in the U.S., but the actual day was flexible. The "day" soon became a month-long series of events in major cities nationwide. Today, Pride Month celebrations attract millions of participants yearly. Events include pride parades, picnics, workshops, symposia, and concerts. Memorials are also held during this month in honor of members of the community who have been lost to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS.
While Pride Month typically focuses on the present and future, LGBTQ History Month focuses on the achievements and the history of the LGBTQ community. LGBTQ History Month is celebrated in October to coincide with National Coming Out Day (October 11).
Learn more about Pride Month
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Pride Month Events
National Institute of Health Events
In recognition of Pride Month, the NIH wants to reaffirm its commitment to uplifting and celebrating the LGBTQ community through Pride Month events.
View all NIH Pride Month Events
Macon Events
Macon Bacon Pride Night 2024
June 27 | 6 pm | Luther Williams Field
The deadline to get tickets is June 13. Tickets include all-you-can-eat food and a hat. Tickets will be individually packaged at Will Call on the day of the game.
Get tickets
View all Macon Pride events
Savannah Events
Stonewall Block Party
June 22 | 2:00 - 10:00 pm | 1515 Bull Street
Free event with panel discussions, musical entertainment, food trucks, and more!
Learn More
Columbus Events
Stonewall Columbus will host several events throughout the month, including an interfaith service, a pride festival and resource fair, and a pride march.
View Pride events in Columbus
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Juneteenth
Juneteenth marks the day that slavery officially ended in the United States. While President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves'' within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free," on January 1, 1863, the proclamation did not immediately free the enslaved population. Rebel governments in the South refused to enforce Lincoln’s proclamation, seeing themselves as an independent nation. As the Civil War continued, Texas became a stronghold of Confederate influence, with many slaveholders migrating to the state. Eventually, over 50,000 enslaved individuals were relocated to Texas, prolonging slavery. It wasn't until June 2, 1865, when the Union army forced the surrender of Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith at Galveston, that the emancipation of slaves in Texas was declared and their freedom granted. Later, on June 19, 250,000 enslaved people were officially freed in the state of Texas.
Learn more about Juneteenth.
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Juneteenth Events
Macon
Juneteenth Macon will host events from Friday, June 7, to Sunday, June 16. Events include a Family Genealogy Workshop, the 32nd Annual Freedom Festival, and the 2nd Annual Juneteenth Parade. View all events
Savannah
Several events are being hosted in Savannah throughout the month to celebrate Juneteenth. From festival to lecture series. View all events
Columbus
Juneteenth Jubilee
June 22 | 5 - 10pm | Columbus Civic Center Amphitheater
Columbus has a series of events leading up to their third annual Juneteenth Jubilee. Join them as they celebrate African American culture through music, art, and community events. View all events
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MUSM Med Camps
June 17 | 10 am - 12 pm | Berrien County
July 15 - 19 | 10 am - 12 pm | Virtual
MUSM is partnering with the GA Rural Health Innovation Center to offer three Med Camps this summer. These camps target middle and high school students from rural, underserved areas of Georgia. Medical students interested in leading interactive activities and health demonstrations are encouraged to sign up.
If you have any questions, contact Be-Atrice Cunningham.
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Upcoming Community Health Fair
July 13 | 9 am - 12 pm | Harris County
The Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center is looking for medical students to lead teddy bear clinics, conduct blood pressure checks, and perform other health demonstrations.
If you are interested in volunteering at any of these health fairs, sign up here.
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MUSM professor awarded grant to study ovarian cancer | Mercer University School of Medicine's Dr. Ilana Chefetz Menaker received funding to study early biomarkers of ovarian cancer to improve detection and prevention of the deadly disease. | | | |
Protect yourself from the Sun's harmful rays!
June is here, which means many of us are spending more time in the sun. This means it's important to make sure you are properly protecting your skin. Having more than five sunburns in your life doubles your chance of getting melanoma, a type of skin cancer. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. And even if you've never been sunburned, you can still get skin cancer. That’s why protecting your skin from the sun is not just important; it's crucial for your health and well-being.
Prevention
Protecting your skin from the sun is easier than you might think. Here are some ways you can protect yourself this summer:
- Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.
- Be sure to reapply it every two hours.
- Look for apparel labeled UPF (ultraviolet protection factor).
- Clothing labeled UPF 30 means that only 1/30 of the sun’s UV radiation will reach your skin.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Early Detection
There is a common misconception that people of color don’t need to worry about skin cancer. That’s not true. Skin cancer can affect anyone. Unfortunately, when skin cancer is detected in people of color, it is often in the late stages, so make sure to check for skin changes often. View examples of skin cancer in people of color.
When caught and treated early, skin cancers are highly curable. Your best chance of seeing skin changes early is by examining your skin monthly. Consider these three words when inspecting your skin: NEW, CHANGING, UNUSUAL.
Don’t forget to check your scalp, ears, and between your fingers and toes. If possible, make an annual dermatology appointment for a thorough skin check. Remember that skin cancer prevention and early detection start with you. Learn more
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This Week@MUSM is the official student newsletter of the Mercer University School of Medicine. Visit our website to learn more or view past issues. | | | | |