June is LGBT Pride Month. It’s a month where the LGBT community celebrates in glorious style.

This year is also the 50th year anniversary of the Stonewall riots; the catalyst for the modern LGBT rights movement.

As the mother of a child who is often, and I hasten to add, lovingly, described as ‘camp as Christmas’, and with friends within the LGBT community, I’m bewildered that we still need Pride Month.

That we still need to raise awareness, campaign for LGBT rights and raise political awareness. To try to stem a growing tide of bigotry and hatred against a whole community of people just because they are, quite wrongly, perceived as different.

Which then got me to thinking about our adopted children. I’ve had several conversations over the last month that have shocked and saddened me.

Conversations about children being repeatedly and systematically bullied for being adopted. Children who have fallen through the cracks due to to lack of funding or institutional apathy. Families who are not getting support because no one knows where to find it. And families who are still struggling to find ways to speak to their adopted children about their adoption story.

It is heartbreaking that in the 21st Century, we still cannot embrace everyone with open arms. Whatever their ethnicity, gender, sexuality, mental status, or even, how their family came together. That adopted children are being failed and stigmatised and traumatised even after placement.

So as Pride month comes to an end, lets each take a moment and practice a little more tolerance and inclusivity. Let’s fight a little harder for our children and loved ones.

We can’t change the world in one fell swoop, but if we all try, just a little bit, we can surely make a difference!