Pride Month is celebrated each year in June in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, where trans and queer people fought back against police harassment of community members in New York City.
It’s a time to recognize and celebrate the lives, stories, challenges, and triumphs held by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual communities across the globe. This is an important time where we can collectively support and uplift the LGBTQIA+ community through our words and actions.
AFGE has chartered our official LGBTQIA+ constituency group, AFGE PRIDE, to support members of this community and educate all AFGE members on the workplace and safety issues faced by LGBTQIA+ workers.
As the rights of our siblings are under attack across our nation at every level of government, now more than ever, we must use our collective power to protect and advance equity and justice for our LGBTQIA+ siblings.
This year we are proud to highlight Charles Cody Tribble, vice president of non-professionals for AFGE Local 507 in Florida.
Tribble is a medical support assistant at the Thomas H. Corey VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach. Having been in this role since 2022, Tribble helps veterans by scheduling appointments, providing information, and ensuring they have access to the care they need.
How long have you been an AFGE member? How did you get involved in the union?
I joined AFGE shortly after starting at the VA, but my involvement began even before that—I started volunteering with the union and quickly realized how deeply aligned I was with its mission. Besides serving as the vice president of non-professionals for AFGE Local 507, I’m also second vice president of the AFGE Florida State Council and secretary of AFGE B.L.A.C.K. I also serve as a Member-at-Large on the AFGE National Y.O.U.N.G. Committee, where I help lead outreach and organizing efforts across the country.
What does Pride Month mean to you?
Pride Month is a celebration of visibility, survival, and joy. It’s a time to reflect on the legacy of those who paved the way—especially Black and brown queer and trans trailblazers—and to honor the ongoing fight for equity and acceptance. For me, Pride is not just about who I love, but about living in my full truth and helping create space for others to do the same. It’s a reminder that joy itself can be a form of resistance.
What is the importance of labor involvement in the LGBTQIA+ movement?
Labor and LGBTQIA+ rights go hand in hand. Both movements are about fairness, dignity, and protecting people from being devalued or discarded. Unions have the power to push for inclusive policies, protect against discrimination, and make sure no worker is left behind—especially those at the margins. When the labor movement shows up for LGBTQIA+ people, it sends a message that justice and solidarity must include everyone.
Are you involved in your local community in any capacity?
While I’m not currently active in any ongoing community projects, I’ve previously organized quarterly street clean-ups through AFGE Y.O.U.N.G. and participated in several town halls where I spoke on behalf of the union. I’m looking forward to doing more in the near future—especially around youth engagement, civic education, and coalition-building. My goal has always been to build bridges between movements, generations, and communities so we can rise together—and that work is far from over.
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