HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRO-2021-023- Proclamation recognizing June 2021 as pride month ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2021
AS PRIDE MONTH
WHEREAS , LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual , Transgender, and Queer) Pride Month is
celebrated nationally each year in the month of June , this month being chosen to commemorate
the riots that took place at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan on the morning of June 28 , 1969 , often
viewed as the birth of the modern LGBTQ rights movement ; and
WHEREAS , several major United States Supreme Court decisions impacting LGBTQ rights in a
positive way have been announced in June , including Lawrence v Texas, U. S. v Windsor ,
Obergefell v Hodges , Pavan v. Smith , and Bostock v. Clayton County, and another decision is
forthcoming this month that will impact LGBT rights in Fulton v . City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS , Orange County has a history of advancing the rights of its LGBTQ residents ,
including Carrboro becoming the first town in the state to enact a domestic registry for same sex
partners , extending eligibility for employment benefits to same - sex partners of County employees
in September 2004 , and the election a gay and lesbian elected officials within the County; and
WHEREAS , additionally, in January of this year, Orange County was among the first local
governments in the state (along with Hillsborough, Carrboro , and Chapel Hill) to pass a local
nondiscrimination law extending protections in public accommodation and employment for
persons based on their sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression, and
WHEREAS , much physical and psychological violence is still inflicted on LGBTQ people both
at home and abroad, violence toward transgender people of color is increasing, bullying and
harassment of LGBTQ youth who make up a disproportionate number of homeless youth in the
United States continues , and the North Carolina General Assembly continues to entertain bills
targeting the transgender community; and
WHEREAS , Orange County is committed to standing with and supporting the LGBTQ
community, and to working to ensure that all of people , regardless of their sexual orientation or
gender identity or expression, are treated with respect and dignity;
NOW, THEREFORE , we the Orange County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim the
month of June 2021 as PRIDE MONTH in Orange County and urge the North Carolina General
Assembly to pass the following bills into law :
1 . The "Equality For All Act, " which would establish comprehensive statewide
nondiscrimination protections for all LGBTQ people in NC / r 3 ) !
2 . HB 451 /SB 438 , which would fully and cleanly repeal HB 142 and get the
discriminatory law off of the books . ( sponsored by Senator Valerie Foushee)
3 . "Mental Health Protection Act, " which would prohibit the practice of ` conversion
therapy . ' / 392
4 . HB 449/SBwhich would ban the so - called " gay/trans panic " defense , a defense
that historically has been used to dismiss anti- LGBTQ violence and justify "heat of
passion" assaults .
This the 15 "' day of June 2021 .
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Renee Price, Chair
17 ''�' F Orange County Board of Commissioners